Key Leeds midfielder secures new four-year contract

admin

Leeds United's Eunan O'Kane and Wigan Athletic's David Perkins battle for the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match at Elland Road, Leeds. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 18, 2016. See PA story SOCCER Leeds. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Eunan O’Kane has become the latest player to commit his long term future to Leeds.O’Kane featured in Leeds’ 3-2 victory over Bolton on Sunday and is now the third Leeds player to sign a four year deal in recent weeks.

Sunday’s stand in captain Liam Cooper and goalscorer Kalvin Phillips have also sealed fresh four year deals at the Yorkshire club. Plus, full-backs Gaetano Berardi and Tyler Denton have recently penned new three year deals.

O’Kane has made 27 appearances for the club since joining from Bournemouth last summer.

The Irishman faces plenty of competition to start in the Whites’ central midfield, but appears to be a key man in new manager Thomas Christiansen’s thinking. Fiery youngster Ronaldo Viera and the experienced Liam Bridcutt both put in strong performances in Leeds’ 4-1 victory over Port Vale on Tuesday night, while it would be difficult to drop Phillips for Saturday’s Championship clash against Preston clash following his goalscoring heroics on Sunday.

New boss Christiansen appears to have no problem making big selection calls. The Dane raised eyebrows when Vieira, 2016/17 club captain Bridcutt and Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas did not feature in his squad for their victory at the Macron.

The Saturday selection headache does not stop for Christiansen at his chosen central midfielder pair. The 44-year-old will have now have to make another big decision. He must contemplate how he can find a place for Tuesday’s hat-trick hero Samuel Saiz who Leeds fans have instantly taken to their hearts.