By Nathaniel Kay

'Little diamond': Some fans impressed by yesterday's display from player Chelsea sold in the summer

Leeds United supporters on social media were certainly grateful that Chelsea allowed Lewis Bate to leave the club last year.

The Whites have rarely been appreciative of their historic adversary, although, yesterday they let their guard down following Bate’s Premier League debut.

Bate finally breaks his league duck

After trading Cobham for Elland Road over the summer, the 19-year-old had to wait patiently for his first appearance under Marcelo Bielsa.

Five months later, he played 45 minutes against West Ham United in the FA Cup.

Just like London buses, his next outing for Leeds was just around the corner.

Due to the injury epidemic affecting Bielsa’s dressing room, Bate earned a call-up to a league matchday squad for just the third time on Sunday.

Coincidently, it was at the home of the Hammers again.

Whilst the previous result was a 2-0 defeat, the subsequent meeting had a much happier ending.

Story of the afternoon

Jack Harrison’s hattrick ensured a 3-2 victory for the travelling Yorkshiremen, with one of their younger members tasting top-flight action for the very first time.

Bate replaced the injured Adam Forshaw after just 22 minutes and coped with the intensity of the London Stadium extremely well.

He was substituted again just after the hour mark, yet this was a tactical move rather than a reflection of the teenager’s display.

His 43-minute cameo certainly earned rave reviews from those Leeds fans watching on from behind their screens.

Here’s what they had to say about Bate’s introduction to the big time on Twitter:

More to come

Hopefully, this is just the start of the midfielder’s senior career in white.

Having lingered for so long in the junior sides, it would be cruel to send Bate back down a level immediately.

However, although a player’s absence is never welcome, the damage to Forshaw could be a silver lining for the Chelsea academy graduate.

We are keeping our fingers crossed for you, Lewis!

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Nathaniel Kay

Nathaniel is a football journalist who graduated from the University of Derby. He has worked at Burton Albion as part of their media team for two years. Nathaniel produces regular articles for the club’s official website and match-day programme. He covered the 2018 U20 Women’s World Cup in Brittany and has reported from grounds ranging from non-league up to the Premier League.