Former Leeds United manager Steve Evans has reminisced about the time when he had a decision to make on whether to offer a professional deal to Mallik Wilks at Elland Road.
Evans reunited with Wilks this summer when he signed the former Leeds winger on loan from Sheffield Wednesday for Rotherham United.
He was the Leeds manager when the winger was coming through the Whites academy and has seen the player develop from a very young age.
The 25-year-old scored in Rotherham’s 2-1 win over Huddersfield Town at the weekend and Evans couldn’t be anymore happier to have Wilks under his charge again at the New York Stadium.
Steve Evans remembers Mallik Wilks from his Leeds academy days
Evans has been watching the winger from his time at the Leeds academy and he was the Whites manager when Wilks was offered a professional contract.
The Leeds boss remembers the time when he had to make the decision on the winger getting a deal and watching him score five goals against the QPR academy side.
“I have just been talking to Malik this morning when we had to make a decision whether to give him a professional deal at Leeds United or not”, Evans told the BBC.
“He can remember the game when I watched them against QPR. I couldn’t remember the game but I think Malik got five goals, he was a kid in a kid’s game, if you like.”
The former Leeds boss is pleased to have Mallik Wilks at Rotherham
Wilks has already made an impact in a Rotherham shirt and Evans is grateful that Wednesday agreed to loan the winger out to the League One side in the summer.
He admitted that while as a person he is an introvert, the winger likes to do all his talking when he is on the pitch and has the talent to grab the eyeballs of football fans.
“Certainly he has got all the abilities in the world, we are thankful, and grateful to Sheffield Wednesday for helping us facilitate getting Malik here”, he continued.
“But he has come in, he has become as if he has been here since the first day of pre-season; he is quiet by character and he is an introvert.
“But his performances and mannerisms on the ball make him an extrovert, makes people want to see him, makes people want to talk to him.
“And we are delighted to get such a talented boy in.”
