Monday night’s match-winner for the Under-21s, striker Luke Parkin, has hailed the team-spirit among the youngsters after helping his side come from behind to beat Brentford 2-1.

The 19-year-old stepped off the bench with 20 minutes to go and United trailing 1-0 on what looked set to be a frustrating evening at Elland Road.

But, after Dario Del Fabro had levelled with a close-range header on 79 minutes, Parkin guided home Chris Dawson’s near-post corner with just five minutes remaining on the clock to secure the three points.

"I was just on the goalkeeper," the striker explained. "The ball got played in by Daws and I just went to head it and managed to flick it in the net.

"We had a lot of chances in the game. When we went 1-0 down and got one back, I just thought ‘If I can one here, it would be great’. And I did, so it was pleasing.

"I thought we played really well. They had a good spell in the first half where they were on top for a bit.

"But I thought we created chances and could have been two or three up by half-time. To get the win in the end is brilliant."

The U21s have been in rich vein of form in recent weeks, losing just once from their last six outings, and Parkin believes that the togetherness within the camp was clear to see on Monday.

"We all get on with each other really well," he said. "We’re good mates with each other off the field.

"As it showed on Monday night – we went 1-0 down and won 2-1 – we’re playing for each other so it’s good.

"We went through a spell where we lost two or three in a row. But since then, we’ve had similar players playing week-in, week-out and we’ve gone on a bit of a roll.

"I know we got beat last week at Crystal Palace but that was the first time in a while. If we can keep going, winning games, I think we’ve got a great chance."

Parkin, who has the first-team shirt number 39 after being with the squad for December’s defeat to Fulham, says he will continue plugging away for an opportunity to make the step up.

"All I can do when I get a chance, when I’m starting or on the bench, is just work hard and try and score goals and impress. That’s all I can do really," he said.

"It’s great. Redders keeps saying that we’re the future and that we’ll get in.

"People have been on the bench like Kalvin and people have been in the squad. All we can do is keep on going, all of us."