Leeds United fans continue to keep tabs on Archie Gray as he shines in the Premier League. And his first season in the top flight has certainly been an impressive one, too.

The Leeds academy graduate has been playing in an unfamiliar centre-back role with Spurs. But Gray has shone, with Spurs fans hailing Gray’s recent performance in the 1-0 defeat against Man City where he went up against Erling Haaland.

Since, Gray has been named Young Player of the Year at the London Football Awards. It’s a testament to how well he’s taken to the Premier League and how well he’s taken to his new role under Ange Postecoglou.

Meanwhile at Elland Road, the Whites are well on track to be joining Gray in the big time next year. Daniel Farke has his side sitting in 1st place of the Championship table ahead of another tough game against West Brom on Saturday.

Speaking after accepting his Young Player of the Year award, Gray reminisced about his time playing for Leeds United last season. That year he played in numerous different positions under Farke, including right-back.

Speaking about the Championship and about how Farke played him in different roles, similar to how Postecoglou is now, Gray explained in an interview with Sky Sports: “Being from Leeds and being there, since forever really, I’m grateful for every experience.

It was a similar thing with Daniel Farke, him trusting me in a different position, and I’m grateful for every opportunity that he put me on the pitch.

“It prepared me well, the Championship. It’s got so many games and it’s such a physical league, coming against different teams and stuff like that, it prepares you well for the Premier League.”

Gray was certainly a loss for Leeds United last season. But Farke replaced him in the very same transfer window, so he thinks, recent comparing Ao Tanaka to Gray.

Speaking about how the two players are very similar in their roles on the pitch, Farke said: “I think overall, it’s important he’s in a central role. You have to lead and make sure they are all on the same page. Football is one language that everyone understands.

“To lead by example on the pitch with good performances is what we expected. A player like Archie Gray last season at 18 when in a central role (did this). Of course, Tanaka is not the biggest leader in terms of speaking but he plays a crucial role.”

To see Gray flourishing in the top flight is an ode to the Leeds academy, and it should give those in the academy now the inspiration needed to push on into the first-team at Elland Road, and beyond.

Names like Sam Chambers could be next in line to make their mark on the first-team, though promotion might see several more youngsters loaned out, possibly to the Championship.