Jéan Leroy-Belehouan
Usual Negative Disclaimer. It's very, very hard for any youngster to break through in a Premier League (or even Top End Championship) First Team Squad. Very hard. The simple numbers are against our Academy lads making it to our First Team. If I've seen one of them play, and you ask me "will he make it, Phil?", I'll play the percentages & say - No, Sorry.
Traditional Positive Disclaimer. I love watching all our Academy lads play, with their muckers, against their contemporaries. Putting the lot in. Enjoying it. Revelling in it. Dreaming. I go to watch them in the moment. Not to worry about the future. If I've seen one of them play and you ask me "is he a good player, Phil?". I'll say - Fuck Yeah.
Jéan made 21 starts at U23 in the truncated 2019/20 season. More than any other player. He made 11 U23 starts (& 1 sub) the previous season, 2018/19. Remembering that players can be more versatile at U23 level, and are occasionally played out of position to test them. That taken, Jéan mainly sets up as one of a back three. More often RCB. Personally, I have not seen too much to choose between Jéan, Kyron Gordon, Keenan Ferguson, Nickseon Gomis and maybe even Ashton Hall. Those have been the defensive choices for the U23s this season. (Opinion) none of those are anywhere near ready for a loan to the EFL. Maybe a short spell in non league somewhere to put them up against men. But, not the EFL.
Jéan has developed physically as kids his age do. Strong, fairly tall, lithe. But, deffo not Man Boy proportions (ie not Young Harry Maguire). For instance, not a big unit like Sam Graham. I've seen Jéan get stuck in & he doesn't shy from the rough stuff. Pretty good at reading the game. Plays his part in the attacking overlaps as per the script. I've seen him have some really good games. Example - v Bristol City U23 in September 2019.
Doing well. Doesn't particularly stand out from the other group of U23 Centre Backs. A long way off an EFL loan. As you'd expect, got a way to go yet.
