But the 21-year-old midfielder has quickly made himself a favourite with Leeds fans and his 22nd minute goal was enough to dump brave Huddersfield out of the Carling Cup at the first hurdle.
Pugh has now scored twice in his five games for Leeds, whose strikers have yet to break their scoring duck.
Appearing in the first round for the first time in 43 years, Leeds were made to work tenaciously for their victory by Peter Jackson's Terriers in the first competitive meeting between the West Yorkshire clubs for 17 years.
Leeds keeper Neil Sullivan, a losing finalist in the competition with Spurs, had to save at full stretch, tipping Nathan Clarke's 15-yard header over the bar when Andy Booth beat the defence to Tony Carss' 14th minute corner.
But it was Leeds who seized the lead shortly after. Steve Crainey played the ball back to skipper Paul Butler whose cross was headed against the bar by the unlucky Michael Ricketts, back in the starting line-up in place of Brian Deane.
Pugh tried to steer the rebound home and when the ball came back to him again he rolled it in at close range for his second goal since arriving from Old Trafford in May. His goal celebration was of Olympic standard!
Town kept their composure and Pawell Abbott's header beat Sullivan, only to strike the bar and fall to United's captain Butler, who cleared.
Town didn't look out of place, with Chris Brandon excelling in midfield, but poor finishing has hindered them in the season's early weeks and again they lacked a cutting edge to go with some neat build-up play.
Jamie McMaster nearly grabbed a second Leeds goal a minute after leaving the bench, but Ian Gray brilliantly turned the Australian's drive over the bar.
Unfortunately, a full-bloodied encounter on the pitch, in front of a record crowd for this round, 30,115, was preceded by violent scenes in Leeds city centre as rival supporters rioted in a wine bar, resulting in scores of police and a number of ambulance crews being summoned to the scene.