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Highly-rated Fabian Delph signed a new four-year contract with Leeds United on Friday.

The 18-year-old has been attracting attention with his performances this season and Leeds have moved quickly to secure his services before Chelsea hear about him (or Wise’s Newcastle United!)

Gary McAllister spoke to the official Leeds United website about the deal and admitted there had been clubs sniffing around already:

“There’s been a lot of exciting things happen in the world of football this week what with West Ham, Newcastle and Manchester City, but the most exciting thing for me is securing Fabian Delph on a four-year deal”

“He’s someone we rate highly. It’s an opportunity for us to work with him and a great opportunity for him.

“There’s been a lot of high profile interest in Fabian which has been kept quiet.

“There’s been some big clubs asking about his availability, but this has sent out a message.

“The club is moving forward now. We recognise producing our own is one way to do that, and he is a fantastic product of the Academy.

“He has to keep moving forward. He has some good people here advising him, and it’s up to him.

“He has a big armoury. He’s a young man, and you tend to improve with age.

“As a former midfielder I’ll pass on anything I can to help him.

“This also sends out a message to the other players in our Academy that If you’re good enough you’ll progress into the first team.”

Leeds United finally got their first home league win of the season by demolishing Crewe Alexandra.

Before the game the talk was of how much damage former Leeds striker Anthony Elding was going to do to Leeds United in the shirt of his new employer’s Crewe Alexandra.

But as it turned out it was teenage sensation Fabian Delph who made the impact in the game - he celebrated his new four year contract by scoring Leeds’ opener with a 30-yard shot. Young Alan Sheehan scored a second with another long range effort before Jonathan Douglas rubbed in Leeds’ superiority with a third.

Jermaine Beckford headed in a fourth - his eighth in seven games and Andy Robinson curled in the fifth goal, a just reward having hit the Crewe bar with a lob minutes before.

However, the game went sour for Leeds in injury time when Leeds’ Lubo Michalik was sent off in for violent conduct and Crewe took advantage of their numerical superiority to score twice: Calvin Zola headed in from a free-kick and Eugene Bopp added a second consolation goal with a fluky deflection. It was the first time David Lucas, favoured over Casper Ankergren, had had to touch the ball all afternoon.

So a sad end to a terrific performance by Leeds United, a result that us them into a play-off position in League One.

Leeds United: Lucas, Richardson, Michalik, Telfer, Sheehan, Hughes (Howson 64), Kilkenny (Robinson 65), Douglas, Delph, Beckford, Becchio (Snodgrass 69). 
Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Prutton.

Sent Off: Michalik (90).

Booked: Michalik, Delph.

Goals: Delph 26, Sheehan 36, Douglas 49, Beckford 67, Robinson 82.

Crewe Alexandra: Collis, Woodards, O’Donnell, Baudet, Jones, Moore, Bailey, Rix (Bopp 63), Schumacher, Elding (Donaldson 63), Zola. 

Subs Not Used: Abbey, Pope, Miller.Booked: Baudet.

Goals: Zola 90, Bopp 90.

Att: 20,075

Ref: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).

Curtis Weston today terminated his contract with Leeds United.

The midfielder is part-way through a 28 day loan to Gillingham FC. However, Gary McAllister had made it clear that he was not part of this season’s plans, a fact confirmed by his squad number of 40.

Earlier this week McAllister had said that he needed to move people out of Elland Road before he can bring in another player. Yesterday Robert Bayly left and today Curtis acknowledged the the truth that his Elland Road days were over.

Weston is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Kent club this week. We wish him all the best in his future career.

Last season Leeds United took all three points at Huish Park on a Friday night to get themselves into the play-offs. However this Saturday they had to make do with a share of the points after Lloyd Owusu’s penalty cancelled out Luciano Becchio’s first-minute goal.

Becchio scored his first goal in a Leeds shirt with a low shot past keeper Asmir Begovic in the first minute of the game.

The referee said Paul Warne was fouled by Paul Huntington and Owusu’s equalised from the penalty spot despite Casper Ankergren saving the initial shot.

In a match that was heated at times both sides had further chances to score with the better ones falling to Yeovil.

Leeds United manager Gary McAllister ended the game disappointed. Last year Leeds started with seven wins on the trot, so far this season they have had a win, a draw and a loss in the league. They seem to have saved their best form for the Carling Cup where they beat lesser opposition Chester City 5-2 in the first round. Leeds face a tougher challenge against Crystal Palace in round two this coming Tuesday and this game was far from ideal preparation for it.

Yeovil: Begovic, Peltier, Skiverton, Forbes, Jones, Downes (Roberts 52), Way (Alcock 90), Murtagh, Schofield (Lloyd Owusu 15), Tomlin, Warne.

Subs Not Used: Wagenaar, McCollin.

Booked: Downes, Peltier, Warne, Forbes.

Goals: Owusu 62.

Leeds: Casper Ankergren, Frazer Richardson, Paul Huntington, Rui Marques, Alan Sheehan, Robert Snodgrass (Jonathan Douglas 73), Jonny Howson (Fabian Delph 86), Dave Prutton, Andy Robinson (Enoch Showunmi 73), Jermaine Beckford, Luciano Becchio.
Subs Not Used: David Lucas, Paul Telfer.

Booked: Snodgrass, Becchio, Huntington, Beckford.

Goals: Becchio 1

Att: 6,580

Ref: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)