Louie Philpott recently put pen to paper on a first professional contract with Leeds United after breaking into Scott Gardner’s Under-21s side.

The 17-year-old defender signed a two-year deal as he continues his development at Thorp Arch. Now, the left-back hopes to kick on and really progress in the Academy setup.

“It feels really good,” he explained. “It is what I have been working toward for all the time I have been here. This is just the first step in my professional journey and hopefully there will be many more to come.

“I have been here for eight years now and it has just been about building every year, even from young. Just hard work every year getting to where I am now and thank you to all the coaches and my family for helping me get here.

“U21s football is much more physical than the U18s. You have got to be sharp with your passing and just everything overall but it has been a good challenge.

“I have got a lot of minutes so far and I feel like I have done well for myself and just hope to play some more games, get more experience and help the team get results.

“Going forward, I feel that has improved in my game a lot. Playing as a wing-back gives me more license to join the attacks and create more.

“On the pitch, I would say I am hardworking. I run a lot. I am up and down so you will see me in the final third and you will see me defending as well.”