By admin 
Many Leeds United fans are concerned about Daniel Farke’s treatment of Archie Gray at the present.
Phil Hay predicted that the 17-year-old midfielder would make a big effect in the first team this season, and his surname spoke for itself. Gray’s father, Andy, was a Leeds player, and his grandpa, Frank, was a member of Leeds’ renowned Don Revie period. Frank played alongside Archie’s great uncle, Eddie, who was one of the best players in the club’s history.
Archie, on the other hand, only returned to competitive play six months after his last appearance, at the tail end of the U-21 season last year, due to two injury difficulties with his toe and then his ankle earlier in the year.
It wasn’t sure how involved he would be this season, since that could have hampered his progress significantly last year, but he has seized his opportunity at the senior level with both hands.
So far, he has appeared in and started every league and cup game. He played every minute of every game in six of those nine appearances, including the last match against Hull.
His three substitutions have occurred in the 88th, 89th, and 76th minutes, indicating that he has made three appearances.
The 17-year-old is without a doubt one of the most brilliant players to have come through the junior system in recent years. He is regarded as a special player with a high potential who has to play games in the senior line up in order to progress further in his development.
But there is a happy medium. Gray was well safeguarded by Leeds during the international break, when he was withdrawn from England’s U-19 squad for the break, despite being his first call up to that level for England.
Phil Hay claimed that there were concerns about his fitness, with Leeds seeking to control his minutes, but that hasn’t really materialized since the international break ended.
Gray has started every league game since, and the 17-year-old played the entire game in East Yorkshire despite looking tired late on. Given his age, he’s a player that needs to be handled and rotated properly, but hasn’t been thus far.
Gray has been far too heavily relied upon by the
Kamara missed much of Rangers’ pre-season, but has played enough football this season – primarily for Finland during the international break – to be used more frequently than he has been.
Kamara’s ball retention under pressure and ability to carry into attacking areas from midfield make him an excellent complement to a more defensive-minded option at the base of the midfield. As a box-to-box player, he should be given the ability and freedom to get forward more alongside a defensive-midfielder like Ethan Ampadu.
Gray is clearly skilled enough to play games at the Championship level and make an impact, but he is only 17 and in his first season as a complete professional, thus Kamara can relieve Gray’s burden and should be given considerably more starting opportunities. He has appeared as a substitute in the 83rd and 88th minutes so far, and was unused at MKM Stadium.
Even if the Finn is still working on his fitness and sharpness and is unable to play a full 90-minute game, he could play 46-60 minutes to give Gray a role from the bench, which he would be more capable of handling later on. Gray could learn a lot from the seasoned 27-year-old, so sharing the minutes makes sense, but Kamara needs to be integrated more at this level.
The performance versus Hull emphasized the importance of this even more. He was his normal self when not in possession, but clumsy and weary on the ball, possibly lacking the sharpness and quickness of thought needed to move the ball forward consistently.
It was his poorest performance in that regard so far, and it was made even more perplexing by the fact that he was not substituted for either Kamara or Gruev after Leeds was reduced to ten men following Joe Rodon’s red card.
Sam Byram’s minutes are being managed by Farke, according to Hay, who tweeted: “Byram only just back from injury and will need managing this season, you’d assume, so no great surprise to see that change.
Many Leeds fans will be wondering, “Where is that same energy for Gray?” Farke needs to be significantly more attentive of safeguarding Gray to avoid injury or limiting his growth because the midfielder is so young and likely to burn out on his present projection.