Matt Grimes reflects on the "biggest mistake" of joining Leeds United on loan

Former Leeds Untied loanee Matt Grimes. (Image: Bruce Rollinson)Former Leeds Untied loanee Matt Grimes. (Image: Bruce Rollinson)
Former Leeds Untied loanee Matt Grimes. (Image: Bruce Rollinson)
The former midfielder reflects on his loan spell in LS11

Matt Grimes says his loan spell at Leeds United is the "biggest mistake" of his career so far admitting he underestimated the size of the club.

The 24-year-old spent the 2016-17 campaign with the Whites having joined on a season-long loan from parent club Swansea City.

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Grimes, though, made just one start and six substitute appearances under head coach Garry Monk in a difficult campaign as Leeds missed out on a play-off spot on the final day of the season.

The central midfielder - who returned to the Swans and is now club captain in South Wales - has admitted his time at Elland Road was a mistake and something to learn from.

"That summer I went away with England Under-21s, so obviously that gives you so much confidence," he said on the Konversations with Kenji podcast.

"I was thinking 'I'm in a really good position now to have a good season on loan with a Championship club'.

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"I'd played in the Championship with Blackburn so I knew I was good enough.

"But the biggest mistake I made going to Leeds, I thought, 'I've played in the Championship, I'm coming from a Premier League team to a Championship team, I know the manager, Garry Monk at the time, I'm guaranteed to play'.

"That is the biggest mistake I've made in my career to date, and hopefully I don't make another one like it.

"I was a little bit naive to the size of club Leeds were. As a youngster at the time, I didn't realise how big a club it was, and the fan base.

"I just thought I was going to play every week and get my career going again. But that was my biggest mistake, just thinking it's all going to happen."