Jonny Howson has discussed his unique player-manager role with the Leeds United U21s.
Jonny Howson believes the experience he’s gathered from a long playing career is providing a huge helping hand in his ability to develop Leeds United’s U21s side.
Howson made 225 appearances for the Whites across all competitions between 2006 and 2012, before going on to play extensively for Norwich City and Middlesbrough across the top two levels of English football - turning out over 500 times for the two clubs combined.
The 37-year-old former England youth international re-joined Leeds in the summer in a player-manager role with the club’s U21 side. Since then, he’s made 16 appearances for the club in Premier League 2, the Premier League International Cup and National League Cup.
Jonny Howson outlines unique Leeds United U21 role
The fact that Howson is still playing for the U21s may seem unusual to some. However, the midfielder believes getting up close to the action gives him a perspective on his players that he simply wouldn’t get from the dugout, while his vast career experience helps him give unique in-game feedback and advice to Leeds United’s next generation.
“I have obviously got the experience over the other lads of having a full playing career, if you like,” former Leeds captain Howson - who has slotted in as a centre-back for the U21s this season - told the club’s official website. “So, I understand when I am on the pitch, playing with them and understanding the game – whether the different situations impact it and how they deal with it.
“Technically, are they showing for the ball? Have they got that hunger wanting to make an impact on the game? Things like that. So, I think when you are actually playing and you are involved, you see stuff that you don’t see from the sidelines. I will see maybe subtle things of whether that is people talking to me, whether that is information I am giving on the pitch and them taking it on board.
“You see it because you are in the thick of the action. How quickly can people react to certain situations, maybe from what I have told them? The lads have been brilliant. I must say, irrespective of different levels of ability, it is great to work with them because their attitude and application has made my transition of stopping playing first team football so much easier.”
How are the Leeds United U21s performing this season?
The Leeds United U21s have endured a mixed Premier League 2 season so far, winning just five of their 18 games and taking 18 points. However, that’s enough to see them sit in the 24th and final playoff place at present, with just two games to go against second-place Manchester United and 10th-place Leicester City.
That said, Howson can be very proud of the efforts of his players in cup competitions, with the Leeds U21s beating Sporting CP U23s and Athletic Bilbao in the Premier League International Cup. Meanwhile, they also won twice against senior opposition in the National League Cup, defeating Scunthorpe United and Gateshead 3-1 and 3-0, respectively, amid defeats to Boston United (4-0) and Halifax Town (3-0).
Leeds U21s lost 4-1 and 4-0 to Port Vale and Fleetwood, respectively, in the EFL Trophy, but did put in a spirited performance in a 3-2 defeat to Accrington Stanley in their final game in this season’s competition.
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