If the cat was not already out of the bag, it certainly was after Leeds United’s FA Cup fifth-round tie at old adversaries Chelsea last week.
Archie Gray, Leeds’s 17-year-old homegrown midfielder, announced himself as a star in the making to a live television audience with a mesmerising performance that belied his tender years.
Pitted against Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the middle of the park, Gray outshone Chelsea’s £220m duo and was named man of the match.
It said everything about his precocious talent.
Daniel Farke’s Championship side lost 3-2, yet much of the focus centred on Gray, who is continuing a rich family tradition which saw his father Andy, grandad Frank and great-uncle Eddie play for Leeds before him.
Handed his debut by Farke last August, the 6ft 2in teenager has become an increasingly important figure as Leeds bid to clinch an immediate return to the Premier League.
Ex-Whites and England defender Tony Dorigo, who helped the club to the First Division title in 1992, summarises Leeds games for LUTV.
He tells i: “What we saw against Chelsea was all the elements of Archie’s game coming together and, goodness me, what a player he will be. Physically, he’s a great athlete but also technically outstanding.
“At one point he beat two Chelsea players on his own 18-yard box before setting Leeds on the attack.
“That showed incredible composure and importantly, when he’s tiring, he still makes the right decisions.
“He reads the game so well and his decision-making – knowing what to do and when to do it – doesn’t normally happen for someone so young. But he’s only going to get better and really he could be anything.”
Gray joined Leeds’ vaunted academy aged seven and, as a 15-year-old, he was named on the bench by Marcelo Bielsa for a Premier League game against Arsenal in December 2021.
His bow came at home to Cardiff City in this season’s Championship opener and he has already racked up 39 senior appearances.
The boyhood Leeds fan’s maturity is certainly evident on the pitch – and off it too.
After Tuesday’s 1-0 over Stoke City at Elland Road, Gray resembled a seasoned professional as he signed autographs, posed for pictures and chatted to supporters.
Former Leeds academy and Under-23s boss Mark Jackson, now managing Australia A-League champions Central Coast Mariners, nurtured Gray in the Elland Road youth ranks.
“I knew Archie would make his debut and have an impact this season, but he’s surpassed all expectations and gone to a completely different level,” Jackson tells i.
“I speak to his dad Andy regularly and it’s scary how good Archie has become.
“I remember when he was still in school and training with the first team at Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa.
“The Gray family have fantastic genes and I played with his dad at Leeds and he was always very fit, as was Eddie during his career.
“Archie has that same athleticism and the technical ability, but he’s also so grounded. He’s grown up around football all his life and I think that helps massively.
“His family are so down to earth so he will never get carried away, but I didn’t expect anything different with Archie.”
Gray began the season in the centre of midfield but was switched to right-back in October and has been a near constant there.
Dorigo adds: “The opposition have got the better of Archie once or twice at full-back. But I guarantee you that, by the end of the game, he’s got the better of them, so he learns and works things out whatever it is.
“I’m sure he will do the same against better opposition as well – hopefully with Leeds in the Premier League next season.
“The difference between the very top players and the rest is their mindset and decision-making. That’s Archie’s strength – he’s so strong mentally – and I see him settling as a box-to-box midfielder.”
It is little wonder the homegrown product is attracting admiring glances from the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool.
Leeds boss Farke told i: “Archie has played so much this season because he has deserved to.
“We work very hard with him on his development and he shows lots of desire to improve each and every day. Although he’s only 17, he already plays with a lot of maturity and professionalism.
“Physically, he’s flexible and adapts to different demands – he’s one of the guys who brings the highest physical output on the pitch.
“He’s not the finished product, but he’s on a really good way and a crucial player for me, so we’re really happy with his development. Although he’s so young, he’s down to earth and such a humble guy. He’s a joy to work with.”
Gray’s performance against Chelsea’s millionaires last week was no surprise to Farke.
The German added: “For Archie’s development and confidence it was important to prove to himself that he can produce an outstanding performance even at that level against top-class players.
“I didn’t need be convinced because I was sure before the game that he could deliver a top performance. But it was encouraging for Archie.”
Gray is the eldest of four brothers and 15-year-old Harry – a striker and like Archie an England youth international – is also tipped to make the breakthrough into Leeds’ first team.
Great-uncle Eddie, a legendary figure at Elland Road, said: “I’d love Archie and Harry to play for Leeds United together, like me and my brother Frank did. That would be nice.”