PURVER EXTENDS UNITED STAY

PURVER EXTENDS UNITED STAY

Young midfielder signs new one-year deal...

Young midfielder Alex Purver has signed a new one-year deal with United.

The 20-year-old featured 33 times for our Under-21s last term, often captaining the side, and has trained with the first-team squad since returning to Thorp Arch for pre-season earlier this week.

Purver, who has progressed through the ranks at Thorp Arch after first joining the club aged six, becomes the latest Academy prospect to extend his United stay following new deals for the likes of Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Kalvin Phillips, Tyler Denton and Eoghan Stokes in recent weeks.

“I’m really pleased, I’m really proud and I’m looking forward to the season ahead,” he told leedsunited.com.

“During the off-season, I was working on my fitness and gym work to try and make sure that I come back and hit the ground running with the first team.

“I feel like I’ve done that and I just want to keep building towards the new season.

“I first joined the Academy when I was six-years-old, so I’ve been here nearly 14 years now.

“I’ve been here a long time and a lot of things have changed, but I’m really happy to extend my stay and I just want to push on this season.”

Purver demonstrated his versatility last season as he found himself occupying a number of positions for the U21s, including a stint at right-back midway through the campaign, but the youngster has set his sights on returning to his preferred midfield role.

“I managed to play a lot of games last season and I filled in for a lot of people, which shows versatility, but I’m hoping that I can really nail down the centre-midfield position this year and kick on to break into the first team,” he said.

“I’ve shown that I can play in a few different positions and cope there, but I definitely see myself as a centre-midfielder.

“That’s my best position and I think that’s where me and the coaches are hoping that I play this season.”

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