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Ryan Edmondson has outlined – – just how closely Marcelo Bielsa monitored his progress during the first-half of the season as the striker once again left Leeds United on loan this week.
Edmondson has joined Northampton Town for the rest of the season. It comes after he spent the past few months in the Scottish Premiership with Aberdeen.
It was a mixed spell for the 19-year-old in Scotland. The high point was unquestionably his brace against Hamilton in October. Unfortunately, he failed to score in any other game. And he also spent a significant period of time on the sidelines due to injury.
Leeds fans would be forgiven for thinking that his spell with Northampton could be crucial if he wants to avoid becoming something of a forgotten man at Elland Road.
But it appears that Bielsa has no interest in taking the teenager off his radar. Following the completion of his move, Edmondson explained just how meticulous the Leeds boss had been in keeping up to date with his progress.
“A few of the televised games at Aberdeen were watched quite closely and I know Bielsa had asked for video clips of every game I’d played in, every minute and even training games when we did 11 v 11s,” he said, .
“Everyone at the club knows Bielsa will watch you like a hawk, everything about you, your body weight, your body fat, the amount of running you do in training and games. It’s good he does that, it gives you that urge to keep on top of everything and keep yourself in the best condition possible.”
It is certainly a good sign for Edmondson that Bielsa has followed him so closely. He would surely have little interest in taking such an approach if he felt that the striker’s long-term future lied elsewhere.
There was previously a time when Edmondson becoming a first-team regular at Leeds looked inevitable. He made his debut at 16, and he was previously lethal for the under-23s.
But he has arguably found it more difficult to stand out since Bielsa’s appointment. And his time at Aberdeen did not appear to be the most beneficial.
His loan to Northampton may not be make or break for Edmondson. But he could certainly do with a fantastic spell ahead of next season – especially with Bielsa watching on.