Leeds United’s return to pre-season is now imminent with the start of the Championship season just five weeks away. It will be a shorter pre-season than in seasons gone by but the Whites will be keen to cram plenty in to make sure they’re ready for the new campaign.
As such, in just 12 days’ time, the club will be playing their first pre-season friendly with a clash against Manchester United in Oslo scheduled. Leeds’ international players are expected to return before that fixture takes place but they won’t travel, with Leeds using those who are due back on day one of pre-season.
A lot could happen between now and that meeting at Ullevaal Stadion, with players potentially coming and going, but that is hard to predict at this point in time. As such, using the list of players expected back at Thorp Arch first, here’s a look at the best side the Whites could select to face the Red Devils.
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Firstly, it seems Dani van den Heuvel could be in line to start between the sticks for the Whites. United will be without a senior goalkeeper on day one, with Illan Meslier and Kristoffer Klaesson both expected to return later this month.
Joel Robles has been invited back, but it remains to be seen whether he will turn up at Thorp Arch for training. As such Dutchman van den Heuvel could be the next cab off the rank in goal, it seems.
This seems like a good chance to give Cody Drameh some minutes in a Leeds shirt as he settles into life back at Thorp Arch and he could see Robin Koch on his inside shoulder. Koch is one of those who is expected to leave this summer, but he should be there on day one and if he’s still at the club he could be involved.
The same can be said for Junior Firpo at left-back. The Dominican-born left-back has been heavily linked away but while he remains at the club he ought to be available for friendlies, particularly while options are so stretched. Pascal Struijk is the obvious man to get the nod as a left-sided centre-back.
Marc Roca is another who seems destined to get a move this summer, but like Koch and Firpo, if he’s still a Leeds player by then, he must be counted as being in contention for this game, unless a move away seems imminent. Darko Gyabi was unsuccessful in his pursuit of international silverware with England U20s in May, but he’ll begin pre-season with ambitions of catching the new manager’s eye.
Given they ended the season with injuries, there are question marks over the fitness of Tyler Adams, Stuart Dallas and Luis Sinisterra. That might open the door for Georginio Rutter to be handed a chance to impress on the right, while Jack Harrison, despite his uncertain future is the clear senior option on the left.
Sam Greenwood looks set for a big year at Elland Road and he’ll no doubt be keen to impress against Man United and stake an early claim. Patrick Bamford remains the senior strike option, but he does have competition from Joe Gelhardt, Mateo Joseph and Sonny Perkins for a spot in the side.
Potential Leeds XI to face Man United on July 12: Dani van den Heuvel; Cody Drameh, Robin Koch, Pascal Struijk, Junior Firpo; Darko Gyabi, Archie Gray; Georginio Rutter, Sam Greenwood, Jack Harrison; Patrick Bamford
