The indicators were there last season. At 16 years old, the Whites star was already playing for the Under-21s and making senior matchday squads.
This season, the 18-year-old has established himself as a crucial Leeds player and one of the Championship’s top prospects.
Gray only made his Leeds debut this season, but he has already played 41 competitive games for Daniel Farke’s side.
Not only that, but the teenager has demonstrated his versatility by playing at right-back, defensive midfield, central midfield, and even No. 10.
With the international break in full swing, Gray has reached another significant milestone in his career.
In addition, the Leeds ace has smashed a record previously established by former Elland Road player Alan Smith.
Gray came on as a substitute for England Under-21s during their European qualifying match against Azerbaijan’s Under-21s at Baku’s Azersun Arena.
The Leeds star came on in the 83rd minute to replace Sheffield United’s on-loan ace James McAtee as an inverted right-back.
Gray scored inside five minutes after Brooke Norton-Cuffy played him in.
According to Opta stats analyst Jonny Cooper, Gray’s strike makes him the youngest Leeds player to score for England U21.
Gray’s age of -18 years and 10 days means he has broken Alan Smith’s record, who scored against Denmark in October 1999 at the age of 18 years and 345 days.
Gray is also the fourth-youngest England U21s scorer. Only Jude Bellingham, Theo Walcott, and Jamal Musiala, who all scored for the U21s at 17 years old, are ahead of him.
That’s not bad company, and if the Leeds star continues his current trajectory, he might soon be on the same level as those superstars.
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