U21 star Huggins feeling benefit of Bielsa’s fitness demands

LEEDS defender Niall Huggins admits Marcelo Bielsa’s “ridiculous” fitness demands have benefited him greatly as he prepares to return for international duty with Wales Under-21s.

Full-back Huggins, 20, has enjoyed a first-team breakthrough at Elland Road this season, making his Premier League debut in February’s visit to Arsenal.

“The manager has helped me improve loads at Leeds and the style of football we’re playing comes down to the Under-23s and right through Academy level,” Huggins said before today’s U21 friendly with the Republic of Ireland in Wrexham (1pm).

“He’s made a big impact on us all. A lot of it comes down from him through his stats, and the fitness levels you have to get to at Leeds now is ridiculous.

“Everything’s got to be high intensity - training, games, the amount of running, high speed and how you pass the ball - and the drills we do help that.”

York-born Huggins qualifies for Wales through his father Marvin and made his U21 debut against Albania in June 2019.

Huggins’ club debut came with Bielsa’s side 4-0 down at the Emirates, but his arrival just after half-time coincided with a two-goal Leeds fightback during a storming finish.

“I was in shock when the manager put me on, but I didn’t have time to get nervous,” said Huggins, who last December signed a new Leeds deal running until the summer of 2023.

“You can’t believe you’re on the pitch in the Premier League at Arsenal away and (Pierre-emerick) Aubameyang is running at you.

“It’s a bit surreal, but you have to focus on your own game and do your best for the team.”

Huggins is part of a newlook Wales squad that has 11 uncapped players for their final fixture before 2023 UEFA European U21 Championship qualification starts in June.

Wales are in a group with Holland, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Moldova and Gibraltar.

Manager Paul Bodin said: “We have got a lot of newcomers into the group and it’s about integration and getting the principles over as quick as we can.

“The Republic are a tremendous intermediate age group and qualify regularly for the major tournaments, so it will be a great test.

“But we’ll everyone familiar with each other’s personalities and hopefully we can put in a good performance.”