Leeds United U21s target second Vertu Trophy win against Oldham Athletic
· Yahoo Sports
Leeds United Under-21s face another test against senior opposition on Tuesday evening when they travel to Boundary Park to take on Oldham Athletic in the Vertu Trophy.
Scott Gardner's side will be looking to make it two wins from two in the competition after beginning their Group G campaign with an entertaining 4-3 victory over Barnsley, providing an opportunity to strengthen their position in the group and move closer to the knockout stages.
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The young Whites head into the fixture after returning to winning ways in the Premier League Cup on Friday, overcoming Stockport County Under-21s 3-1 at home.
Alfie Cresswell opened the scoring before Carrick Njinko took centre stage with a first-half brace, giving Leeds a commanding three-goal advantage at the interval.
Although Oliver Huddleston pulled one back shortly after the restart, Gardner's side remained composed to see out the victory.
It was a positive response following their narrow defeat to Tamworth earlier in the week, with the manager making several changes to his starting XI.
Only captain Louis Enahoro-Marcus retained his place, while Scotland Under-21s international Rory Mahady returned between the posts after making his debut for his country during the international break.
Njinko's performance was particularly encouraging, with the forward demonstrating his ability to threaten in the penalty area and create opportunities for himself.
His two goals took Leeds away from Stockport before half-time and highlighted the attacking options available to Gardner ahead of Tuesday's trip.
However, the challenge at Boundary Park will be different from the one Leeds faced in the Premier League Cup.
Oldham Athletic provide another senior test
Oldham represent another opportunity for Leeds' academy players to test themselves against experienced senior opposition, with the Vertu Trophy offering a different environment from the regular under-21 schedule.
The competition brings academy sides into the same group-stage format as first teams from League One and League Two, creating valuable opportunities for young players to experience the physicality, tempo and game management associated with senior football.
Leeds demonstrated their attacking potential in their opening fixture against Barnsley, winning 4-3 at Oakwell in a match that saw Callum Mills score a hat-trick and Josh McDonald also find the net.
That victory showed the Whites can trouble Football League opposition, but the scoreline also underlined the importance of defensive organisation when attempting to protect a lead.
Tuesday's encounter will provide another measure of the progress being made within Gardner's squad, particularly against an Oldham side that will be determined to make home advantage count.
For the Leeds youngsters, the challenge will be to reproduce the attacking intent displayed against Barnsley while showing the composure needed to manage difficult periods of the game.
Credit: Leeds United website (@leedsunited.com)Players to watch as Leeds look to build momentum
Njinko will be one to watch after his two-goal performance against Stockport, while Cresswell will also hope to carry his goalscoring form into the fixture.
The return of Mahady is another positive for Leeds, with the goalkeeper having gained valuable international experience during the recent break.
Enahoro-Marcus, meanwhile, continues to provide leadership within a side that has seen changes to its starting line-up across recent fixtures.
Gardner's team selection will be worth monitoring, particularly given the number of changes made for Friday's Premier League Cup encounter.
The demands of competing across different competitions could create further opportunities for players to impress, although the priority will be to field a side capable of securing another positive result.
With Leeds already having demonstrated their ability to compete against senior teams in the Vertu Trophy, Tuesday's match represents another chance to build on that experience.
A victory would put the Whites in a strong position as they look ahead to their remaining group-stage fixture against Fleetwood Town, while also providing further evidence of the depth and potential within the club's academy.
Leeds will travel to Greater Manchester aiming to combine the confidence gained from their recent cup success with the discipline required to overcome an experienced opponent.
Kick-off at Boundary Park is scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday.