Here are the latest Leeds United evening headlines for Thursday, August 4.
Marsch reveals Phillips emotion
Jesse Marsch says he felt 'emotional' when he recently passed the mural of Kalvin Phillips in Leeds city centre. The midfielder left Leeds to join Premier League champions Manchester City this summer.
A mural of Phillips in Leeds has stood since November 2020, but Marsch now feels emotional whenever he passes it, saying 'it is not easy to accept' that he is no longer a Whites player.
Marsch said: "I still have contact with him. I drove through the city last week and saw the mural which got me emotional.
"Not having him in our kit is not easy to accept but moving forward we knew it was not going to be replacing him with one player.
"When I see the mural of Kalvin I think it's hard not seeing him everyday. It's hard not being attached with a young man that you really like who has high potential and want to see be successful. Now I just need to see it from a little afar and see him in a ugly colour of blue."
Cooper ruled out of Wolves clash
Jesse Marsch hopes to see Leeds United skipper Liam Cooper resume full training with his teammates next week after an encouraging week so far. Cooper missed all five of Leeds’ pre-season friendlies with a minor but niggling Achilles injury and was forced to sit out of training during the club’s tour of Australia.
The centre-back was given the green light to take to the turf once more on Monday to train on his own and after making progress, Marsch is hopeful of seeing him in full training sooner rather than later. The head coach has officially ruled Cooper out of this weekend’s clash with Wolves, but he shouldn’t miss too much more action.
“Liam Cooper has had an Achilles issue from his off-season programme from running on a treadmill,” Marsch said. “It’s taken him a long time to get back into training but this week he has been on the pitch doing individual work, finally."
Bate joins Oxford on loan
Lewis Bate has joined Oxford United on loan in the hope of being able make a name for himself in senior football. The Leeds United youngster has penned a season-long loan deal with Karl Robinson’s League One outfit and he could make his debut this weekend as the U’s take on Cambridge United at the Kassam Stadium.
Bate, who is still only 19 years of age, joined the Whites from Chelsea last year and made three appearances in the Premier League last season, with a start coming against his former club at Elland Road in May.
“I’m really happy to be here, I spoke to the gaffer a few times about it I’m glad to get the deal done and I can’t wait to get started,” he told Oxford’s Youtube channel.
“Speaking to the manager completely swayed me. Hopefully I can come here on loan and show what I can do. I know it’s going to be physical (in League One), but I’m really looking forward to the challenge.
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