JUST IN: Leeds United appoint new under-21s boss as former England international also joins Whites

A former England international has joined Leeds United’s backroom staff, and Scott Gardner has been named head coach of the under-21 team on a permanent basis.

Following Michael Skubala’s move to Lincoln City as manager of the 21s in November, Gardner, a former coach of the Whites under-18 team, was given temporary control of the team.

Gardner, 35, has now been appointed on a permanent basis and his backroom staff will also be strengthened with the arrival of former England international, Stewart Downing.

Downing has joined Chris Elliott and Michal Pudjak on the Thorp Arch coaching staff as an assistant coach.

Gardner, who played for the first team and received caps for England’s junior team in his early career, is a former Academy graduate who has spent many years coaching the Whites.

Since he began coaching at Thorp Arch in 2012, he has worked with young talent in every age group as part of his lengthy affiliation with the Whites.