Here are the latest Leeds United headlines for Friday, May 26, 2023.
Loan pair futures monitored
Millwall boss Gary Rowett will continue to monitor the progress of Leeds United pair Jamie Shackleton and Charlie Cresswell this summer following their loans spells at the New Den. Cresswell was a regular for Rowett in the Championship, playing 30 times this season, with Shackleton also a regular, albeit more often from the bench.
While Rowett acknowledged that the next step for the players would be out of his hands given that they're both back with Leeds United, their futures will be closely watched.
“With all of those players, you’re always seeing what happens, what’s their next step,” Rowett told NewsAtDen. “That will be out of our hands with all of the loan players.
“They all go back to their clubs and their clubs then decide what is their plan moving forward for those players."
READ MORE: Even Tottenham's calamitous defensive form is little solace to Leeds United
Allardyce agenda
Sam Allardyce faces the media this afternoon for his pre-match press conference. The Leeds United head coach will take questions from television, radio, print and online journalists at Elland Road ahead of the Tottenham Hotspur clash on Sunday.
From the lowest of lows on Sunday afternoon, how has Allardyce got the squad in the kind of mind frame that gives them a chance against Tottenham Hotspur? The experienced boss will have needed to dip into his box of tricks to find the edge his team needs.
One of the more provocative observations Allardyce made after the West Ham United loss was his focus on how poor his substitutes played from the bench in the capital. The 68-year-old was not shy in condemning how poor they had been more than once.
Has he had the desired reaction from them this week? Does he feel he can trust them to come in and change things for him this weekend?
Liam Cooper was in the squad at the weekend, but rooted to the bench, while Patrick Bamford came off with a hamstring injury and Rodrigo was playing through the pain barrier until the end. Will any of them make it for Sunday?
Gelhardt role?
With Sam Allardyce in desperate need of a win on the final day of the Premier League season to stand any chance of pulling off a massive escape from relegation, the Whites boss could really use all the firepower he can get his hands on.
That has led some Leeds United fans to wonder whether they might be able to bring Joe Gelhardt back into the fold now he is no longer needed for action in his loan spell at Championship Sunderland.
The short answer is no, Gelhardt is not able to return to action for Leeds despite Sunderland’s season already being over following their play-off semi-final defeat to Luton Town (who will now face Coventry City in the final), and nor are any of the other loanees who have been out elsewhere.
With a few limited exceptions like emergency goalkeeper and work experience loans (for younger academy scholars going out to non-league), a player’s registration can only change from one club to another when a transfer window is open – including starting and ending loans. Gelhardt can therefore not be re-registered with the Leeds squad until next month.
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