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Some people seem to forget just how good Leeds United were for a period of time in the early years of the Premier League. Looking back on it now, they, as an entire club, are underrated, let alone some of the players who featured. 

The Yorkshire club even reached the Champions League semi-final in 2001 in what was the kind of success that those at Elland Road will see as a fantasy these days. The fact is, prior to their relegation, and the further downfall that followed, Leeds United were one of the most unpredictably brilliant sides in England’s top flight. It was a club full of players going under the radar; some of which we’ve highlighted below.

10) Jack Harrison 

One of only two current players to feature on this list, Jack Harrison was often unfortunate to have his output overshadowed by Raphinha before the Brazilian left for Barcelona.

Though, it must be said, Harrison was one of the best players in Jesse Marsch’s side, prior to the American being sacked earlier this week.

Last season, his nine goal involvements were crucial as Leeds just about avoided relegation from the Premier League.

It’s little surprise that Leicester City were keen to buy him in January; it’s imperative to the club that he remains at Elland Road and continues to produce.

9) Luke Ayling

Luke Ayling might not be the first choice left-back at the club anymore, but, with six years of service, he is undoubtedly a modern-day legend at Elland Road; an underrated one at that, too.

The former Bristol City man helped Leeds back to the Premier League in 2019/20, and has since helped to keep them afloat. 

It should be said here that he perhaps thrived more in the Championship, and has struggled up against truly quick, skilful Premier League wingers.

But the way that Ayling works, and puts his body on the line, has truly endeared himself to the Leeds fanbase.

8) Ian Harte 

For a player so clinical from dead ball situations, we don’t hear enough about Ian Harte. This was a player who scored a free-kick under the lights at Elland Road in a Champions League quarter-final.

In truth, it could be argued that the left-back was before his time. The modern game would have seen the spotlight shine on him far more.

Indeed, Harte ended his career with 281 appearances for Leeds, scoring 38 goals and laying on 27 assists.

He also won 65 caps for the Republic of Ireland, and played for his country at the World Cup.

7) Alf-Inge Haaland 

Famous mostly for being the victim to Roy Keane’s career-ending challenge, many seem to forget that Alf-Inge Haaland made an impressive total of 181 Premier League appearances as a defensive midfielder.

Of course, his son, Erling, will likely score more goals than that number – which is a compliment for the forward rather than an insult to his father – but Alf-Inge Haaland certainly had an underrated career.

He clocked up 34 caps for Norway and was an incredible utility man throughout his career.

As per Transfermarkt, he played in the following positions during his time on the pitch: centre-back, right-back, central midfield, defensive midfield, and right midfield.

We’d like to see Erling at centre-back, to be fair!

6) Lucas Radebe 

Known by Leeds fans as someone who was undoubtedly world class for a period of time as he helped the club to the Champions League last four, Lucas Radebe remains underrated by those outside of the club.

What didn’t help his underrated status was playing in the same defence as Rio Ferdinand, and Jonathan Woodgate, who received the majority of the spotlight.

However, Radebe played 251 times in total for Leeds, and won 70 caps for South Africa during a truly distinguished career.

An absolute legend of Leeds.

5) Gary Kelly

Another member of that Champions League semi-final side, Gary Kelly is one of the greatest right-backs to ever play for Leeds United. But, again, like Radebe, outside of the Yorkshire club, not many will speak of Kelly with the praise that he deserves. By the time he retired, Kelly had made 325 Premier League appearances.

He also won 51 caps for the Republic of Ireland, playing at two World Cups, in 1994 and 2002.

You simply don’t do that if you’re not an absolutely excellent full-back.

To have the longevity to make your debut in the 1991/92 season, and still be playing for Leeds in 2007 shows just how well Kelly looked after himself throughout his career.

4) Mark Viduka 

One of the best goalscorers to play for Leeds, Mark Viduka was never one for the spotlight, even after hanging up his boots, hence the underrated status.

If he did enjoy the limelight, then most Premier League fans would speak of what was a clinical player far more often. He left England with 92 Premier League goals to his name.

Indeed, during his time with Leeds, he developed into one of the purest ball strikers in the top-flight, while he also offered a truly surprising amount of pace and power.

An Australia and Leeds legend, Viduka will never be forgotten at Elland Road.

3) Dominic Matteo 

Dominic Matteo was one of those players who was underrated everywhere he went. This is someone who made 275 Premier League appearances, featuring for Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers, and Liverpool in what was a very impressive career, but, ultimately, one that went under the radar. 

A top left-back, he won six caps for Scotland, and also played for the club in multiple elite European tournaments.

Matteo featured in the Champions League and the UEFA Cup, even scoring two goals in the former throughout the 2000/01 season, when Leeds threatened to do the unthinkable and win the competition.

A brilliant player.

2) David Batty 

Like Viduka, David Batty was never one for the limelight, and this sees his impressive career often go under the radar by fans outside of the clubs he starred for.

By the end of his career, he had made 267 appearances in the Premier League, and even had a winners’ medal from the 1995 season with Blackburn Rovers.

Batty may well be best remembered by those of a certain age for his penalty miss for England – you know the one – but this is a truly elite midfield player.

During his time at Leeds, he was a guaranteed starter.

1) Tony Yeboah 

Some people may disagree with this one. Yes, Tony Yeboah was rated. But, was he given the credit he really deserves? Not for us.

He remains one of the greatest African players to ever play in the Premier League, and that’s not mentioned enough.

He scored some of the best goals that we’ve seen in England, and should be up there with some of the best strikers of a ball that the Premier League has ever seen.

Who can forget that strike that pinged off the crossbar before crossing the line? We all know those goals are the best goals.

So, there you have it, our list of the most underrated players to play for Leeds United in the Premier League era. Do you agree with our picks? Or do you believe we’ve missed out some deserving players? Let us know in the comments!

Arsenal are flying, with manager Mikel Arteta meticulously crafting a team with title-winning credentials over the past several years.

With Arsenal last competing in the Champions League football in 2016/17, the club bitterly witnessed the hard work of last year suffer a bump in the closing stages, and a series of losses resulted in a fifth-placed finish confirmed in the closing phase of the season.

This term, the north London outfit cast aside the cobwebs of last season and looked to mount a more fruitful odyssey towards Europe’s coveted continental competition, but expectations have been exceeded and the Gunners perch atop the Premier League table with a five-point advantage on second-placed Manchester City, and with a game in hand.

In order to cement the club’s newfound prowess, owner Stan Kroenke granted Arteta funds to bolster the ranks this January, and the side’s technical director Edu has diligently targeted shrewd deals to enhance the chances of success.

And while Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior have been clinched to fortify the defensive and midfield ranks respectively, it is £27m acquisition Leandro Trossard, clinched from divisional rivals Brighton & Hove Albion who might have the most profound impact on the Emirates club’s endeavours over the remainder of the campaign.

Since arriving on the south coast to forge a Premier League career with Albion in 2019, joining from Belgian outfit Genk for £15m, the 24-cap star has plundered 25 goals and 14 assists in the English top-flight.

And this year, his seven goals and two assists in the league were imperative for the Seagulls as their flourishing season took flight, confirming his stature as a deadly offensive weapon and consequently piquing Arsenal’s interest.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 16% of positional peers in Europe’s top five leagues for rate of non-penalty goals and touches in the attacking box, also in the top 18% for blocks, illustrating his direct prowess and willingness to get stuck in and rebuff opposing advances.

The “unreal” magician – as lauded by Rio Ferdinand – is the shrewd signing that Arsenal needed to add depth and quality to their finely balanced unit; with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli flourishing down the offensive flanks, the league leaders will welcome the addition of such a dynamic and prolific force to ease the workload.

And while the Gunners faithful will lament the missed opportunity to sign Mykhaylo Mudryk, whose club Shakhtar Donetsk was engaged in intense negotiations with Edu before Chelsea swooped in and swiped the phenom from under their noses, tying him down to a £88.5m deal, the shrewder route in landing the 26-year-old Trossard offers a new dimension for a portion of the price.

While Trossard is not the ‘world-class’ acquisition that many of the Gunners faithful yearned for, he could well be their own Mudryk, with his crafty dribbling ability and direct play style providing a fine recipe for success when combined with his Premier League experience.

Indeed, he is a player of top-class calibre, and his impact within this roaring squad will be felt over the coming months, providing cover for the established flankers Martinelli and Saka, adding a valuable dimension to the frontline when unleashed.

The end of the January transfer window is fast approaching and Glasgow Rangers have been relatively quiet throughout the month so far.

Todd Cantwell, who joined on a permanent deal earlier this month, has been the only senior addition of Michael Beale’s first window in charge at Ibrox.

However, the English attacker may not be the final signing of January. One player who has been tipped for a potential return to Ibrox before the end of the month is midfielder Joe Aribo, who left the club to join Southampton last summer.

Writing in his Daily Record column on Sunday, Rangers icon Kenny Miller perhaps surprisingly claimed that Beale is sure to have looked at a possible deal to sign the dynamo on loan, if the forward is available.

Saints boss Nathan Jones recently refused to rule out exits for the fringe players in his squad, admitting that he would like to have a tight group of players heading into the second half of the season, and the ex-Gers man could fall into that category.

The 26-year-old has not started a Premier League match in 2023 and has been an unused substitute for Jones in three of their last four matches in all competitions, which suggests that the gem is out of favour at St. Mary’s and potentially on the chopping block heading into deadline day.

Beale must now pursue a swoop to bring the attacker back to Ibrox as the 26-year-old could be a big upgrade on current attacking midfielder Scott Arfield.

Since the start of last season, the 34-year-old has plundered eight goals and one assist in 49 Premiership appearances for the Light Blues under Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Beale.

The former Burnley man’s end product has been inconsistent and Aribo could come in as an upgrade on him in that department as his previous form for Rangers suggests that he’d offer far more in the final third.

Ezri Konsa, who played with Aribo at Charlton, previously compared him to a former Manchester City goalscoring midfielder, saying: “Joe’s style is unique. When I was with him at Charlton he did remind me for a while of a left-footed Yaya Toure. But you don’t get a lot of midfielders like Joe, there aren’t many around.

“Like Toure, for a tall guy he’s got such great feet. But that languid style he’s got is actually fairly unique in the game.”

In his last season for the Gers, Aribo certainly lived up that comparison, racking up eight goals and five assists, whilst creating nine ‘big chances’ for his teammates, in 34 Premiership appearances. That came after managing seven goals and four assists in 27 starts during the previous campaign.

The Nigeria international is already a proven performer and has worked with Beale before, during Steven Gerrard’s tenure, meaning the gem could hit the ground running and be an immediate Arfield upgrade if he returns to Ibrox.

Journalist Ben Jacobs has said that AS Roma is considering loaning out Leeds United-linked star Nicolo Zaniolo, with Tottenham Hotspur also interested.

The Lowdown: Leeds make Zaniolo approach

Italian outlet Calciomercato has reported that Jesse Marsch’s side has approached Roma with an enquiry about the player’s services.

The 23-year-old has played 17 times for the Serie A side in all competitions, finding the back of the net twice and assisting on three occasions.

Zaniolo has even been called up to the Italian national squad where he’s been given 11 caps for his nation, his best season in terms of league output for Roma was in the 2019/20 season where he amassed eight goal contributions.

The Latest: Roma would consider loan move

Speaking to the ‘JustJoe Football Show’ on YouTube, Jacobs said that Roma would be open to loaning out the player this month, but they face Premier League competition from Tottenham Hotspur.

He stated (17:04), “The valuation on Zaniolo has dropped somewhere between 30 and 35 million, which might seem like a large outlay, but he’s a risk-reward type signing with a huge amount of potential.

“And then there’s a feeling at the Roma end that they might be open to a loan with either an option or an obligation to buy. Which allows you to bring somebody in and then deal with the situation based upon how he fairs in the Premier League, at least if it’s an option to buy.

“Spurs at the moment are the ones that are more seriously at the table. And the reason for that is because Antonio Conte has looked at Zaniolo for quite some time. And when Tottenham played Roma in a friendly over the summer, they began talks but the price was too high.”

The Verdict: Zaniolo could be out of reach

Whilst the possibility of a loan may be more attractive to Leeds, it would be difficult to land the player with Spurs also sniffing around.

The possibility of playing under Antonio Conte is certainly a more of an enticing opportunity than Jesse Marsch, the Italian has won a Premier League title, the Serie A four times, an FA Cup trophy and two Italian Super Cups.

Another factor that could lure Zaniolo to north London over Yorkshire is the current Premier League standings, Leeds are 14th but only two points above the relegation zone and Tottenham are fifth with five points separating them and fourth place.

It would come as no surprise if the player was potentially put off by the prospect of competing in a relegation dogfight, so Leeds fans might have to temper their expectations when it comes to this deal happening.

Journalist Jacque Talbot says that Atletico Madrid star Joao Felix is on Newcastle United’s ‘radar’ as both Eddie Howe and Jorge Mendes fancy a deal.

The Lowdown: Plenty of interest

The Athletic reporter David Ornstein recently revealed that Atletico are ‘ready’ to loan out Felix in January, with both Arsenal and Manchester United the ‘main contenders’ for his signature.

However, they are thought to be ‘nowhere near’ the package that the La Liga side want to take the Portugal international on loan, with them demanding a total of €21m (£18.6m) to cover a short-term fee and wages.

It remains to be seen whether a club will pay that much just to take Felix for six months, but Newcastle seem to also be in the race to sign him…

The Latest: On Howe’s ‘radar’

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Talbot says that not only is Felix is a player on Howe’s personal ‘radar’, but agent Mendes will want to drum up a ‘healthy relationship’ at St. James’ Park for future transactions:

“Joao Felix is someone Howe has on his radar, as strange as that sounds. I think that Mendes would be looking to drum up a bit of a healthy relationship with Newcastle because you can sort of see down the line how big they’ll get and it’d be beneficial for him.”

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The Verdict: Get it done

Even if only for six months, this is a deal that the North East club should really be doing if they want to push for a UEFA Champions League place for next season, especially with Howe and Mendes both on board.

Hailed as a ‘world class‘ player by Atletico chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin, Felix showed that he is capable of producing on the big stage at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, scoring one goal and supplying two assists in four starts (Transfermarkt), before Portugal were knocked out by Morocco in the quarter-finals.

At senior club level, he also has 54 goals and 29 assists combined for both Benfica and Atletico (Transfermarkt), and at just 23 years of age, still has a very high ceiling.

Nonetheless, given Alexander Isak’s latest injury, and the fact that Callum Wilson has struggled for fitness over the years, Felix would provide excellent cover in attacking areas for the Magpies, as they look to cement their lofty place in the Premier League table.

Newcastle United could turn their attention towards a move for Belgian hotshot Romelu Lukaku in 2023, according to reports from Italy.

What’s the word?

As per Calciomercatoweb, Magpies sporting director Dan Ashworth is keen on signing the 29-year-old next summer should the Tyneside club qualify for the Champions League, with the 6 foot 3 ace currently on loan at Serie A side Inter Milan from Chelsea.

The report suggests that, while the Nerazzurri could look to keep the striker on loan for a further year, the west Londoners’ preference to sell may give Newcastle the advantage, with Ashworth ready to ‘forcefully enter’ for the centre-forward’s signature.

The 104-cap menace made his return to San Siro on a temporary basis during the summer, having only rejoined Chelsea a year earlier for a club-record fee of around £97.5m.

Could be a ‘monster’ at St James’ Park

There is no getting away from what has been a miserable last 18 months or so for Lukaku – both for club and country – with the former Everton man having scored only twice in all competitions this term following a number of fitness and injury issues.

Prior to that, the £180k-per-week marksman had netted just eight goals in the Premier League following his return to Stamford Bridge, with that limp output ensuring that the Blues made the bold decision to loan him out during the summer.

Equally, at international level the typically prolific marksman came up short at the World Cup in Qatar, notably missing four big chances off the bench in the final group stage clash against Croatia as the Red Devils crashed out at the first hurdle.

Alas, while the last year or so has been notably disappointing for the Antwerp native, Lukaku remains a hugely impressive attacking asset regardless, boasting a remarkable club career tally of 268 goals at senior level.

The lethal “monster” – as described by journalist Thierry Nyann – also has 68 goals to his name for his national team, having regularly delivered the goods when it matters for almost a decade.

Despite his recent difficulties at Chelsea, the ruthless Lukaku has previously been a real force in English football, having scored 121 goals in 278 Premier League games in total.

The former Toffees ace particularly caught the eye as a result of his form at Goodison Park – scoring 87 goals in 166 games – while even his brief stint at Manchester United proved somewhat fruitful, with 42 goals to his name in 96 appearances.

The one-time West Bromwich Albion star had been especially prolific during his previous stint at Inter, with his total tally for the Nerazzurri now standing at 66 goals and 17 assists in just 100 games.

A striker who can be “unplayable” when in full flow – as lauded by Arsenal legend Sol Campbell – Lukaku would provide a real focal point to Eddie Howe’s attack if he were to arrive at St James’ Park, while also offering an almost guaranteed supply of goals such is his remarkable career record.

With the Belgian seemingly in need of a boost in confidence, joining such an ambitious and high-flying outfit as Newcastle could well prove to be the perfect solution.

Celtic have no doubt enjoyed notable success during Ange Postecoglou’s tenure thus far, although one worrying trend that has emerged in recent times has been seeing a handful of the club’s young talents poached by Premier League sides.

The Parkhead giants have seen both Leo Hjelde and Rory Mahady join Leeds United in the space of the last 18 months, while arguably the greatest loss has been that of Scotland U21 international, Ben Doak.

The highly-rated 17-year-old was snapped up by Liverpool earlier this year having risen up through the Hoops’ youth ranks, with the winger quickly making his mark at Anfield with eight goals and six assists at academy level this season, including four goals and four assists in just six UEFA Youth League games.

The Dalry-born sensation has even made his debut at senior level for the Merseysiders after featuring off the bench in the Carabao Cup triumph over Derby County last month, having been lauded as an ‘exciting prospect’ by former Bhoys hero, Kenny Dalglish.

The “fearless” youngster – as described by journalist Barry Anderson – has already left those back at Celtic Park ruing their inability to keep him in Glasgow, with it looking as if the Reds’ starlet will go on to enjoy a bright future in English football.

For Postecoglou and co, the hope will be to avoid seeing another promising talent follow Doak out the door, with the Scottish champions likely already sweating regarding the long-term future of teenage ace, Rocco Vata.

Recent reports have claimed that the 17-year-old has caught the attention of both Arsenal and Manchester City, as well as the likes of AC Milan, Juventus and Roma, as a result of his sparkling form of late.

The Ireland youth international – who is the son of former Celtic and Albania defender Rudi Vata – has arguably been the star attraction for the club’s ‘B’ team this season, with the versatile forward having scored eight goals and recorded one assist in just 14 Lowland League outings.

That impact has come after the playmaker was included as part of the first-team squad for the trip to Austria in pre-season, while he was more recently part of the travelling party for the Sydney Super Cup voyage.

The Hamilton-born menace will again have a chance to impress Postecoglou after earning his place in the squad for the warm-weather training camp in Portugal alongside fellow youngster Bosun Lawal, with the title-winning coach hoping to increase the duo’s “exposure” to life at first-team level.

A player with a “killer attitude” who could go right “to the top”, in the words of ‘B’ team coach Darren O’Dea, Vata will certainly be one who could well make the step up from the youth set-up sooner rather than later.

Alternatively, it would also be no surprise if that interest from the Premier League’s big boys ultimately leads to an exit from Paradise for the player, with Postecoglou and co likely dreading a repeat of the Doak scenario.

Newcastle United are reportedly interested in a move for Braga striker, Vitinha, although are expected to face competition for the forward’s signature.

What’s the word?

According to Portuguese outlet O Jogo, via Sports Witness, the Magpies – as well as fellow Premier League sides Brentford and Southampton – are believed to be keen on signing the 22-year-old, following the youngster’s sparkling form for his current side.

The report suggests the Portugal U21 international is being ‘followed’ by that trio of top-flight clubs, with Bundesliga side Stuttgart also said to be interested in the player who still has almost five years left to run on his existing deal.

The piece does also outline, however, that a deal may prove ‘unlikely’ to pull off in January, albeit with the exciting starlet said to have a release clause in his current contract worth in the region of €30m (£26m).

Ditch Chris Wood

That fee is unlikely to prove an obstacle as far as those at St James’ Park are concerned, with that figure seemingly something of a bargain in relation to the marksman’s current form, with Vitinha having scored nine goals and provided five assists in just 20 games in all competitions this season.

That stellar tally for the highly-rated “sharpshooter” – as described by writer Zach Lowy – also includes a haul of four goals in just five Europa League group-stage outings, with that figure only matched by Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez.

Such prolific form follows what was a real breakout campaign during the 2021/22 season, with the 5 foot 10 sensation having netted 14 goals and laid on four assists in 38 games across all fronts, notably hitting four against Santa Clara in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal.

The aforementioned Lowy has suggested that he would “not be surprised” to see the clinical asset make the move to England in the near future, with the player having the “the pace, the power, the stamina” to potentially be a success in the Premier League.

Adding Vitinha to Eddie Howe’s ranks could well allow the Newcastle boss to finally ditch misfiring, peripheral figure, Chris Wood, with the New Zealand international having failed to truly make his mark since his £25m arrival from Burnley back in January.

The 30-year-old has been unable to truly justify that rather hefty price tag with just four goals in 33 games in all competitions for the club to date, including only two goals in 16 appearances in league and cup this season.

As pundit Gabby Agbonlahor noted at the time of his capture, the one-time Leeds United man had been something of a “strange” capture for the northeast side, with his addition seemingly just a short-term fix amid the scrap for survival last term.

It could well be an ideal time for the Magpies to cut their losses on the £80k-per-week dud in the New Year in order to bring in a younger asset such as Vitinha in his place, with Wood having potentially already served his purpose at a club which now has bigger aspirations than merely staving off the drop.

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White has been criticised by Paul Robinson for his comments about the officials during the club’s recent 2-2 draw against Brentford in the Premier League. 

The Lowdown: Forest v Brentford controversy

Speaking after that game, the 22-year-old claimed that his side were “cheated out of three points” after they conceded a controversial penalty last Saturday afternoon. This led to the FA opening an investigation over the comments, with a charge reportedly likely to be handed to the player.

Away from this investigation, it appears that Gibbs-White’s comments have caught the attention of one former Premier League goalkeeper who has not shown much sympathy over what the Forest player said.

The Latest: Gibbs-White criticised

Speaking to Football Insider, Robinson reprimanded Gibbs-White over his outburst about the officials following the Brentford game, labelling the remarks as “stupid”.

The 43-year-old stated: “It is a stupid thing to say. You have got to be very careful with your choice of words. You certainly cannot insinuate that the officials have cheated. If you do that, you will get yourself in trouble.

“You can be frustrated, you can be disappointed and you can voice your opinion. One thing you cannot suggest is that the referees are cheats. They are not.

“They might get decisions wrong but when they do, you have to be careful with your words. Gibbs-White will get himself in trouble because it really is a silly thing to say.”

The Verdict: A big regret for Gibbs-White

Regardless of how frustrated Gibbs-White may have been because of refereeing decisions against the Bees, saying that the officials cheated is a step too far from the youngster.

With that in mind, if a charge from the FA does come his way in the near future, the 22-year-old may well end up regretting what he said after Saturday’s game, especially if it lands him a suspension.

Moving forward, the best thing Gibbs-White can do now is use whatever punishment comes his way as a learning curve and not overstep the mark again when it comes to sharing his opinions on referees.

Celtic’s recent triumph over Hibernian at Parkhead on Saturday saw long-serving winger, James Forrest, hit the headlines, with the Bhoys academy graduate having netted a stunning hat-trick to bring up a century of goals in his Hoops career.

The 31-year-old has been on the periphery in recent times during Ange Postecoglou’s tenure – with that win over Lee Johnson’s side having been just his first start of the season – although took what was a rare chance with both hands, proving once again just what a reliable figure the Scotland international has been over the past decade or so.

The £4.5m-rated ace has been a truly “underrated” figure for both club and country over the years, in the words of Stefan Bienkowski, having notably claimed a remarkable haul of ten Scottish Premiership titles to date.

The 38-cap speedster – who made his debut for the Glasgow side back in 2010 – doesn’t appear to be a force on the decline if this recent showing is anything to go by, having begun to justify the new three-year extension that he received at the end of last term.

The diminutive ace remains one of the club’s most notable academy success stories of the modern era – alongside current skipper Callum McGregor – having shown that there is a clear pathway from youth level to the senior ranks at Celtic Park.

The focus now should well be on finding the next promising talent who can emulate the £19k-per-week wide man’s success, with the Prestwick-born sensation a shining example of the benefits of promoting from within, rather than solely prioritising potential incomings.

One youngster whom Postecoglou could well turn to sooner rather than later is 17-year-old, Ben Quinn, with the exciting teenager potentially an ideal fit to fill Forrest’s shoes later down the line, as he also typically lines up in a right-wing berth.

The highly-rated forward – who is the nephew of former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Quinn – has been with the Hoops since joining back in 2019, with the Scottish giants reportedly edging out the likes of Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers for his signature.

That intense interest from the Premier League is a marker of the Irishman’s obvious talent, while he has also scored once and laid on one assist in all competitions so far this term, with the Dublin-born starlet still having plenty of time to develop even further.

Part of the side which claimed victory over RB Leipzig in the UEFA Youth League a few weeks ago – which left coach Stephen McManus to tip his players for a “bright future” – Quinn is already making steps towards becoming the next youth star to force his way into the first-team.