Sunday's FA Cup win at St Andrew's saw chances handed to a number of Leeds United fringe players.
Sean Longstaff admits he and other Leeds United fringe players are ‘chomping at the bit’ to play more football after scoring the winning penalty at Birmingham City.
Longstaff has been fit and ready to contribute since the third-round win over Derby County but five previous appearances have all come from the bench, totalling just 79 minutes. Competition is high and not just in central midfield, with football limited for those not currently in Daniel Farke’s strongest-XI.
“I have been chomping at the bit really to get back in but having to be patient because we are playing well at the minute and picking up good results,” Longstaff said following Sunday’s win. “So all I can do is try and work as hard as I can every day and wait for an opportunity.
“Obviously, today was a tough game. [It was] probably not one where you are going to be on the ball and showing everything you can do but it probably shows a different side to everyone’s game.
“Not just me, there are a lot of lads in there who are obviously chomping at the bit to play. The competition is really good and as long as we can push each other to be a better football team, that is all that matters.”
Leeds United resilience a positive ahead of Premier League relegation battle
Patrick Roberts’ deflected late leveller could have knocked Leeds back but for the second time in a matter of days, they showed resilience to get something from a game in which they deserved little. And the experienced Longstaff sees that as a good sign going into the relegation run-in.
“A bit of quality at the start of the second half, I thought we would have kicked on,” the midfielder added. “I thought we did a little bit but as the game goes on, they grabbed it back and ended up scoring at the very end.
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“I thought it was great character from everyone not to get rattled by that and ultimately when the big moment came I thought we were excellent. Credit to Lucas [Perri]!
“I think it was a game you never really feel fully in control. I thought they played really well and we found it difficult in spells but we stuck together and the togetherness was there and the sort of never-say-die attitude in terms of fighting for each other.
“Whether it was mistakes or whatever happened, we sort of had each other’s back and that is only going to be good for the group going forward. We have got some massive games to obviously stay in the Premier League and this was sort of a good way to build momentum and keep momentum going into them.”
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