It wasn’t until August that Charlie Cresswell signaled his long-term commitment to Leeds United by signing a new contract at Elland Road.
Fresh from a successful loan spell at Millwall last season and helping England win the European Under-21 Championship, the centre-back has signed a contract until June 2027 (official website, August 1 ).
“I’m still young, I’m only 20 years old, I’m very happy and excited to be here and that shows the trust the club and the staff have in me in giving me this contract and I hope I hope I can come back.
” my confidence this season,” Cresswell told the club’s official website after his new terms were announced.
“I want to play a big role this season, I want to achieve big things in front of the fans and make the people around me proud.
And yet, less than two months later, Cresswell’s future at Leeds seems quite uncertain.
He has made three starts in all competitions this season, but only one of them has been in the Championship and two in the Carabao Cup.
Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk, on loan from Tottenham, have been Daniel Farke’s preferred partners this season, while Liam Cooper has returned after picking up injury in the season opener against Cardiff City.
The captain’s return to action means Cresswell appears to have fallen even further down the pecking order and he wasn’t even put on the bench by Daniel Farke against Hull City on Wednesday (September 20).
Rodon was sent off in that match, meaning Cresswell is likely to at least start on the bench when Leeds host Watford at Elland Road on Saturday September 23.
But also, is Cresswell a regular?
Sports writer Phil Hay, speaking to the Square Ball podcast on Friday (0934/22:
46) hinted that the 20-year-old would probably not accept being out for a long time.
“I think Charlie Cresswell’s absence from the team on Wednesday was quite notable,” Hay said.
“The players are back and (Liam) Cooper is fit again which means there’s no place for him in the 20.
“We know there has been a lot of interest in Cresswell, there was some last season, we know he had a good season at Millwall.
“If he doesn’t knock on the door in the Championship or if he’s not in the team in the Championship, you can’t help but think he’s going to be another guy who starts looking elsewhere
He may still be young, but Cresswell has proven that he can play at this level.
If he can’t force himself to make a decision at Elland Road, then he should start looking elsewhere.
Who knows, maybe it will be as early as January.