Leeds United loaned out Harry Gray to League One strugglers Rotherham United, but the teen has already helped drag his side out of the bottom four.
The January transfer window is ultimately once again looked back on as a disappointing one for Leeds, despite one smart attacking reinforcement.
Looking at Leeds’ striker pool, it’s no stronger than it was at the start of the window. Emerging talent Harry Gray, though, was allowed a loan away from the club into League One’s relegation dogfight.
Harry Gray scores second senior goal to fire Rotherham United out of League One relegation zone
It was a tall order for Gray to help Rotherham United out of the bottom four. All attacking metrics pointed towards the Millers dropping into the fourth tier unless something drastic changed under Matt Hamshaw.
Three League One games have followed since Gray arrived at the South Yorkshire club, with seven points on the board.
After getting his first senior goal in a huge home win against Northampton Town, Gray built on that as he scored a fine goal in their stunning 4-0 away win at Exeter City.
The Rotherham Advertiser shared another glowing verdict for the Leeds teen.
“What a beautiful goal – a striker’s instincts, a striker’s poise. Everything about it as the 17-year-old ran in from the left and found the bottom corner was perfect. You can’t teach it,” Paul Davis wrote, giving Gray an 8/10 rating.
Leeds United set to save tens of millions as Harry Gray’s EFL breakout continues
The fact Gray was shipped out on loan to the bottom end of League One should be a clear indication of the fact he wasn’t ‘ready’ to support our striker setup in the Premier League.
That being said, it’s the senior first step in what could be an extraordinary career for the youngster. I did wonder if Gray would be able to prove transformative to one of the most uninspiring sides in League One, Millers fans held reservations too over the impact a 17-year-old could have, as good as he may be.
However, in three games, he’s already having the desired impact on Rotherham’s chances of staying up. Not only that, but also on his own efforts to prove he’s the talent Leeds know he is.
There was (rightly) a mass clamour for a new striker at Leeds during the January window. We ended up with no new number nine after a £40million offer was made to Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The pressure for that new striker is for the here-and-now – fears of Dominic Calvert-Lewin succumbing to injury are justified.
Although, looking at the long-term bigger picture, which hopefully includes survival in the meantime. Leeds are going to save tens of millions with Gray’s trajectory. You can already see a Premier League player in the making.
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