Steve Evans believes that young Leeds United goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell could be the latest starlet to emerge into the first team and explained he did not sign another custodian before the emergency loan window shut because of his faith in the starlet.

Leeds were considering signing a goalkeeper recently after Ross Turnbull was ruled out through injury, while only earlier this week Charlie Horton terminated his contract with the Whites to return to the United States on a family matter.




But Evans chose not to add cover for Marco Silvestri and says the reason is that he is convinced Peacock-Farrell is ready for the step up.

The Scott explained he watched Peacock-Farrell in a recent Under-21 game against Sheffield United and left with the impression the custodian is good enough to provide cover for Silvestri.
 


"I think 100 per cent we've run with Charlie Horton for a while and we've probably seen Peacock-Farrell slightly ahead of Charlie Horton", he said on BBC Radio Leeds.

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"We took him down to Wycombe [for a friendly] and I know he only got five minutes or so, but I purposely made the decision not the strengthen in the goalkeeping department after I went to watch the Under-21s play at Sheffield United last Thursday evening.

"Sheffield United had an experienced team out and I only really went there to look at one player, which was the young goalkeeper.

"He was outstanding, his saves, his commanding of the area, his kicking, his distribution."

And Evans feels that Peacock-Farrell has the talent to follow in the footsteps of Lewis Cook, Sam Byram and Alex Mowatt, by emerging into the Leeds first team and then making a name for himself.

The Scot concedes that if Peacock-Farrell has to be thrown into action now then it will be a big ask for him to rise to the challenge, but he has backed the shot-stopper.

"If this football club has been famous for anything in the last couple of years then it's been famous for young players.

"There's a great saying in football – if you're good enough, you're old enough.

"It may have to be a big ask of that man to go and wear the shirt at first team level, but Cook did it, Byram did it, Mowatt did it.

"I think this young man is in that realm", he added.