Cody Drameh looks to repair Marcelo Bielsa bridges as defender assesses huge Cardiff impact

Cody Drameh has taken the first steps to getting back into Marcelo Bielsa’s good books by citing his influence as a key factor behind his excellent start to life in Cardiff.

The Whites boss has earned a reputation for signing and offering important first-team roles to exciting young talent. Indeed, the Argentine has brought in the likes of Joe Gelhardt, Crysencio Summerville and Sam Greenwood.

In total, Bielsa has handed eight teenagers their first-team debuts at Leeds this season – which is a Premier League record in a single season.

Right-back Drameh was also in that picture with three Premier League appearances and five in the first team overall. In fact, he had featured in three of Leeds’ last four games in January before, surprisingly, asking to leave.

Drameh subsequently signed for Cardiff on loan until the end of the season.

Bielsa did not want the player to leave, but immediately sanctioned his exit once he knew Drameh’s feelings.

And the Leeds boss offered something of a veiled dig when asked for his thoughts on Drameh’s departure.

He said: “A lot of the young players who accompany the first team have made their desire to play in the first team clear.

“Evidently what I propose to them is not what they desire so I don’t criticise that.

“I don’t condemn it and it doesn’t disappoint me, but clearly I calculated things wrongly because they have what I consider a great opportunity.”

Speculation full-back may be finished at Leeds

Those words have led some to believe that Drameh’s time at Leeds may be over as a result.

However, the defender has started well at Cardiff, impressing his manager, the former Leeds striker Steve Morison.

Now Drameh is seemingly looking to repair some bridges by speaking highly of the Leeds boss.

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“Some of the stuff you see on the pitch from me is definitely from Marcelo Bielsa and his coaching staff,” he told the club’s programme, as cited by the Yorkshire Evening Post.

“Their feedback was for me to be more aggressive and play on the front foot and I think the manager here has brought the best out of me since I’ve been here. His desire to get me in was the main reason that I came here.

“As a player, you always want to feel wanted and it seemed like the perfect place for me to come and play. The emphasis has been on being positive and wanting to attack and he’s filled me with a lot of confidence to go and express myself.”

Cody Drameh enjoying life in the Championship

Drameh’s move to Cardiff might have seen him drop down a division, but the standard in the Championship is high these days. Indeed, with every side capable of beating one another, Drameh insists he is enjoying the experience.

“It’s a really crazy league,” he added.

“It’s a league where anyone can beat anyone and it’s very unpredictable. I’m really excited for the games we’ve got coming up. We’ve just got to keep together, because you never know, it could be anyone’s moment at any time.

“Someone could get the nod one week and then it could be another player the next week. We just need to keep pushing each other, keep the standards high and be ready if and when we are called upon.”

READ MORE: Three signings Bielsa needs to transform Leeds fortunes – with talks already held on first deal