Edgar Cani received a tough welcome to English football earlier today when playing for Leeds United's Under-21 team, the club's assistant boss Steve Thompson believes.
The Albanian hitman was snapped up on loan from Catania for the remainder of the season in the winter transfer window and is hoping to challenge Steve Morison for the target man spot at Elland Road.
He played for five minutes in Leeds' defeat to Brentford, but has been an unused substitute for the club's last two Championship games.
Cani clocked up 90 minutes in Leeds Under-21 side's 0-0 draw with Sheffield Wednesday earlier today, something Thompson feels the Albanian needed.
"I think he needed the 90 minutes", Thompson told LUTV.
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"There were a few tackles going in, a few elbows and I thought 'Welcome to the English game Edgar'.
"I don't know if he expected that, but we've got to get him up to speed on how Leeds United play."
Thompson now feels that Cani has further pushed himself into the senior side reckoning when boss Neil Redfearn makes his selection for this weekend's match against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
"So it's a good 90 minutes for Edgar and it's one of those ones that he puts himself in the manager's plans for the weekend."
Leeds have a number of attacking options at present, but Redfearn has kept faith with a system which sees Morison operate as his side's focal point, despite the striker being on a lengthy goal drought.
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