Jonny Howson, Leeds United’s home-grown midfielder, has been watched by England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce, who is monitoring his progress.

The Leeds Academy product wasn’t at his best on the day Pearce decided to run the rule over him, but that doesn’t mean his chance has gone.

Howson, who hasn’t missed a league game this season, is approaching his 150th appearance for the club, and Leeds manager Simon Grayson says: “I am sure Jonny has the potential to play for his country.

"Stuart Pearce has been to watch him in one game and it probably wasn’t the best result or performance Jonny has played in, but Stuart has asked me about him and I have given him an honest opinion of what he is all about.

“Hopefully good things will follow for him because he has had a very consistent season and you can be sure he will always work hard to fulfil his ambitions. If he is playing well for his club, he will be recognised at other levels.”

Grayson added: “Jonny is a young, talented player who has played a lot of games for us. He will learn from the experience of this year and emerge even stronger because not everything in the garden has been rosy.

"It is how you respond to disappointing defeats and performances that makes you a better person and a better team.”