Young full-backs Josh Emmanuel and Myles Kenlock will have “learned massively” from Tuesday’s hard-fought 1-1 draw at Brighton and Hove Albion, according to manager Mick McCarthy.

Emmanuel, 19, was making his 17th first-team start for the Blues, in addition to three sub appearances - as well as one start and one game as a substitute while on loan at Crawley last season - while 20-year-old Kenlock was in the XI for 10th time, having come off the bench once.

“It certainly was a big test, playing against Solly March on one side and Anthony Knockaert on the other, and both having been booked early on,” McCarthy said.

“To then get through the game and not get another booking with Knockaert running at you and twisting your blood is pretty good going.

“They’ll have learned massively from that and they were both knackered, absolutely knackered.

“I think people and maybe you guys [in the media] underestimate the level of fitness that footballers are at when they've got games Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday.

“Saturday was a really tough game and then they have to go on Tuesday again. And it takes you a while, when you’re 26 or 27, even Dougie at 35 has got that battle hardness, he can do it.

“But the young lads who come in, they have to put so much effort into it on the Saturday that Tuesday comes around and it’s a big ask to go again.

“So they were knackered, but I thought they were great, they stuck with it and it got tough for them near the end when they were putting subs on but fair play to them, they’ve shown a bit of mettle.”

Does he believe first-team football can be a shock for youngsters? “It’s always an eye-opener. You think you’ll hold somebody off the ball and suddenly they find he’s just as strong as you and he knocks you off it or you go into a 50/50 that you’d have won all day long when you’re in the youth team and somebody nails you.

“You go for a header which you think you’re going to win and some crafty centre forward just goes ‘Bosh, have some of that!’.

“Or you’re playing up front and some centre-half wires into you and nails you and you think ‘Wow, that’s a test’.

“Of course it’s an eye opener, it’s their education and the pair of them are doing great, they’re doing fine."

Photo: TWTD

whosroundisitanyway added 10:41 - Feb 18 I could run a lot faster & longer when I was 19 than I could at 35? And play two games in a weekend with no problem.
7

Guthrum added 10:51 - Feb 18 Compare with the Brighton home game last season, when Emmanuel got massacred by LuaLua. Shows how far he has come along and developed in that time. The lad has a great future.
10

ClausThomsen added 11:09 - Feb 18 AKA Mick's gonna drop them both
6

muccletonjoe added 11:23 - Feb 18 Two very bright talents to emerge from a forgetable season
3

Seasider added 11:27 - Feb 18 Don't like the sound of MM's spiel above,especially mentioning Dougie.Hope it is just to keep Leeds guessing line up and personnel. Personally would hope that he kept the same formation,with Christophe Berra in for Chambo,who shouldn't be risked,Freddie or Kieffer Moore for silly boy Lawrence;and Cole Skues replacing Toums. As we are at home wouldn't want to see Douglas on the bench even,let alone starting;because if he did start that would be a turn off for me and many others I should think?

7

brittaniaman added 11:38 - Feb 18 We know Skuse will be back !!! Dino has been waiting for the opportunity to slot him in again, But Please NO DOUGLAS AS WELL.
3

Beckets added 12:12 - Feb 18 Oh dear that's them on the bench then. Flat back 4 of Spence, Chambers, Berra and Knudsen. Skuglas to return.
1

BlueMachines added 12:31 - Feb 18 Surely they can't be dropped? Even if it is only because we don't have anyone else! I don't think people under estimate the fitness side of the game. I believe managers over estimate it. Some people can run 7 marathons in 7 days. But some footballers can't run intermittently for 90 minutes twice in 4 days? Absolute BS. Not just here from muck, but any manger who uses that as an excuse.

4

Penguinblue added 12:36 - Feb 18 There is no end to the moronic utterances from McCarthy. Watch us go when we finally get a decent football manager. McCarthy OUT
1

frantblue added 13:25 - Feb 18 come on you blues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! thinking unchanged line expcept for lawro and toumai kiefer moore and BISHOP in for me skuse berra on bench be courageous Mr Mccarthy name a team which will win V Leeds..
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dirtyboy added 13:37 - Feb 18 Depends on growth, but I'd say peak fitness is 25-30, 19 year old shouldn't be running a mid 20 year old off the pitch. Last couple of years I've noticed I do need a bit more recovery! Age huh?
0

ChrisFelix added 13:52 - Feb 18 Dougie cant do it for 10mins let alone 2 games,in a week. The thought of Different class being anywhere near the pitch today makes me feel it wont be 3 points
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timkatieadamitfc added 14:15 - Feb 18 @guthrum a fantastic point, I was at that game and he WAS truly massacred, I was also at Villa game Saturday and he played really well - looked like a completely different player from just over 12 months ago.
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