Former Leeds United forward Noel Whelan has called on the club to let promising youngster Ryan Edmondson leave on loan next season.

Eighteen-year-old Edmondson has been in good form for Leeds' Under-23 side this season but is yet to make the breakthrough into the senior setup, appearing just twice for the first team so far.

Leeds are pushing for promotion to the Premier League this season and Whelan, who himself came through the ranks at Elland Road, believes that they need to send the forward out on loan if he is not going to be handed regular chances under Marcelo Bielsa.

"He needs to go on loan, I've said this season. If he's not going to be used in the first team then we need to be fair to this player. He's banging goals in for fun, he's got all the credentials there to be a very good player," Whelan told Football Insider.

"He's something that is kind of going out of fashion now in football which is that 6ft, strong, main striker. He could be very well utilised, he's a different type of player to what people come up against these days in the Championship.

"He's got pace, he's strong, he can hold the ball up, he's got a great eye for a goal but if the club are going to not use him they've got to be fair with him and that means banging him out on loan, giving him that opportunity.

"Nobody wants to hold their career, he should have gone on loan in January because he's been flying for a year-and-a-half now and Under-23s is no good to him any more, it becomes a little bit too easy."

Edmondson has made three appearances for England Under-19s, scoring one goal.