White is a slick operator, composed but mean in the tackle and everything suggests he will take the next step in his stride, too. White, who was released by Southampton at 16, has been a big hit – last month a five-year-old Leeds fan offered Brighton £15.07 for the defender – and his progress has interested Premier League sides. The Brighton loanee excelled in League Two and One at Newport and Peterborough respectively and, after replacing Pontus Jansson at Leeds, he has again relished the jump in standard. The ice-cool centre-back has barely put a foot wrong this season, playing every minute of every Championship game to help Marcelo Bielsa’s side to top spot. Photograph: Jon Hobley/News Images/Shutterstock Ben White, 22, Leeds Max Bird (right) in action for Derby against Fulham. Last May he was named the EFL apprentice of the year, an award given to Ryan Sessegnon and Lewis Cook in recent seasons. “I’d push to say in the next year he could get an England place – I think he’s been that good.” Bird trained regularly with the first team under Frank Lampard last season and has enjoyed a run of games since Christmas. “He’s probably the first name on the team sheet,” said Rooney, adding the midfielder should be on the lips of coaches at St George’s Park. Phillip Cocu has been spoilt for choice when it comes to academy talent –Jason Knight and, more recently, Louie Sibley have made a splash – but Bird’s progress has been striking, with Wayne Rooney recently underlining the teenager’s growing importance. Chair was born in Antwerp but is of Moroccan descent, prompting inevitable comparisons to the former Loftus Road favourite Adel Taarabt and, though he is only 5ft 2in, the livewire No 10 packs a punch. Eze earned his stripes on loan at then League Two Wycombe and Chair added further vim to the first team, scoring five goals in 36 appearances following a fruitful six months at Stevenage last year. Read more Ilias Chair, 22, Queens Park Rangersīrentford’s “BMW” of Benrahma, Mbeumo and Watkins have made a big impression but so have QPR’s three-pronged attack, with Chair impressing in between Eberechi Eze and Bright Osayi-Samuel behind, more often than not, a lone striker.
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