Non-League: Lions end long-time hunt for midfielder Purver

The 20-year-old, who signed a new one-year deal at Leeds earlier this summer, having made 33 appearances for the development squad side last term, will stay at Nethermoor until January 2.

And Bower is keeping his fingers crossed that the Leeds-born player can have a similar loan impact to the one made by young Bury forward Anthony Dudley at the club in 2015-16 – to help provide the catalyst for the Lions.

Bower, who is set to hand Purver a debut in tomorrow’s National League game at Solihull Moors, said: “Alex seems to be very well thought of and he is one who we have had an eye since the end of last season.

“Hopefully, it will suit everyone – us, Leeds United and Alex.

“He has a good attitude and he was keen to come and knows that he needs to play some ‘man’s football’ now and get away from that under-21 thing.

“But at the same time, with us being part-time, it suits both parties really because he can stay with Leeds and have a few sessions a week there and then play the ‘proper football’ with us on a weekend. He comes with no fear and gets on the ball and plays a bit and has got a lot of attributes and can put in a tackle as well and he looks an all-round midfielder.

“We have been short on that and now hopefully we have managed to pin one down.”

The signing of Purver follows some previous loan arrivals from Leeds in the past to Guiseley and Bower hopes that will continue as he seeks to further cultivate links with all of West Yorkshire’s professional clubs.

He added: “It has to suit both sides, but we have taken players from the likes of Leeds and Bradford before.

“Sometimes it works out with young players; sometimes it doesn’t and we are hoping that Alex can follow Alex Dudley’s impact.

“He was top of his class as such in his age group at Bury and was in and around the first-team squad and you need to make that step to men’s football.

“If Alex is as successful as Anthony was last year, then we will be certainly be pleased with that.”