Leeds United boss sent transfer message as crucial decision to be made over Wales player

Leeds United supporters have told Daniel Farke that Charlie Crew needs minutes next season and that a decision over whether to send him on loan must be made after his breakthrough campaign culminated in him making his senior Wales debut.

It has been a dismal week for Welsh football, with the national team drawing, somewhat embarrassingly, against 203rd-ranked team Gibraltar before getting hammered 4-0 by Slovakia on Sunday evening. The two results have really ramped up the pressure on Rob Page.

The only real positives to come out of the week were debuts for the likes of Lewis Koumas, Joe Low, Jay Dasilva and Crew. It has been a fantastic year for the Cardiff academy product, still only 17, who signed his first pro deal with Leeds, won the club's under-21s player of the year award, got his first Wales under-21s cap and his first senior national team appearance under his belt, too.

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And while Crew would no doubt have wanted the game against Gibraltar to have gone differently, he voiced his pride at earning his first cap for Wales, writing on social media: "A dream come true to make my debut for my country. Hopefully many more to come, thanks for the support!"

He was also included in a senior matchday squad at club level for the first time this season, too, with Farke putting the teenager on the bench for games against Watford, Hull City and QPR.

But the central midfielder, who turns 18 this week, will certainly be eyeing more minutes at senior level next season, with Leeds fans believing they have a real talent on their hands. Some believe it might be worthwhile sending the youngster out on loan next term.

Darren wrote on X: "A huge future with us now maybe that may means going out on loan first like Bate, Gyabi did." Another wrote: "Needs minutes next season or sending out on loan for his development."

Another Leeds supporter said: "Pleased for the lad. We know he's a talent so possibly not far from some first team starts." While Leeds fan Matt also wrote: "Next season is gonna be huge for Charlie. Debut in the starting XI at some point early on. Preseason could be massive."

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There is no doubt that Leeds have a decision to make this summer at such a crucial stage in the youngster's development. Whether Farke believes he has a role to play in the senior team next season or whether a loan stint away would be the best course of action is a call the club must get right if they are to unlock the youngster's vast potential.

Speaking about the next generation at Leeds, Farke recently said: "We believe in our youth and it's one of the cornerstones in our philosophy as a club. It's quite important we work on a top level in the academy because we rely on that. We bring through here and there some young talent but the truth is also that we play with many young players already.

"We have many, many young players on the pitch and it's also important that we are not overdoing this philosophy. We just bring them into the first team setup once they are ready and at the moment during this period, it's also important that we have not too much fluctuation, that we stay together with a group who know our process, our football.

"Obviously we still have an eye on the development and there are definitely one or two players who also caught our eye and we are pretty, pretty careful on following them. But I don't want to speak too much about names otherwise they would have too much weight on their shoulders."