Daniel Batty will have a point to prove to Leeds United after boyhood release

Leeds United face off with Hull City in the Championship this week.

Leeds United take on Hull City in midweek as they attempt to continue their fine six-game winning streak. The Tigers are themselves enjoying a good run of form, winning five of their last eight games in the Championship. That form leaves them 12th in the league, just three points off Sheffield Wednesday in sixth.

One of the key players in their recent form has been young midfielder Daniel Batty. The 21-year-old has established himself as a regular for the club recently, playing in their last four matches and starring in the weekend win against Stoke City. 

He, more than many others, will have a special reason for wanting the get the best of Leeds United at the weekend. 

Batty is a boyhood Leeds United fan and, in fact, grew up in the Leeds United academy. 

The midfielder, no relation to Elland Road great David Batty, was with Leeds from the age of five all the way until under-16s. At that point, he was released for being ‘too small’, as he detailed in a 2018 interview with the Hull Daily Mail. 

“I’d to think they’re looking at me and thinking they’ve made a mistake. Leeds were my team growing up and I was there from the age of five right up to under-16s. That’s when I was released.

“I was devastated. I was in tears. That proved that I cared and how much I wanted it…

“The main reasons for me getting released was because I was too small and not strong enough. I had to battle through that, learn from it and hopefully get a bit stronger. I’ve been working work hard ever since I got here. I’m pushing as much as I can.”

This week he will be up against a very imposing Leeds United midfield including Mateusz Klich and the returning Kalvin Phillips, a player who did make it through the Leeds academy. 

It will be a hard task showing the West Yorkshire side how they made a mistake in such a clash. But Leeds fans will no doubt be keeping an extra eye on a player they decided would not make the grade. 

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