Leo Castledine has opened up on his departure from Chelsea and his ambition to emulate his father by playing in the Premier League after a sensational loan spell at Huddersfield Town led to a £1million move to Middlesbrough.
The 21-year-old attacking midfielder, who joined Huddersfield in August, scored 12 goals in 29 League One appearances, earning the EFL Young Player of the Month award for December and a January transfer to the Championship outfit.
Castledine, whose father Stewart played for Wimbledon in the top flight during the 1990s, has already surpassed his father's career tally of 11 goals. “He still has the one-up on me of playing in the Premier League but hopefully I can get to that soon,” said Castledine.
The former Chelsea academy prospect credited a late growth spurt for saving his career at AFC Wimbledon, where he was told he might be released at age 14. He also revealed that his father’s experience has been a positive influence. “It’s healthy pressure,” Castledine said. “He’s never been too hard on me because he knows what it’s like.”
Castledine, whose mother Lucy Alexander is a TV presenter and sister Kitty an actress, now hopes to help Middlesbrough secure promotion as they sit second in the Championship behind Coventry City.
