Leeds United opened up their winter training camp in Spain with sessions at the Oliva Nova resort just off the Mediterranean coast on Sunday morning. Jesse Marsch and his coaching staff led a large group at the start of five days culminating in the friendly with Elche on Thursday.
Seven players were absent from the camp entirely, with four ill or injured, while the World Cup participants have been given until December 12 before returning to Thorp Arch. Stuart Dallas and Luis Sinisterra are at the camp, but not playing a full part because of their respective rehabilitation programmes.
Here are some of the offbeat moments which jumped out at LeedsLive from the training session watched.
READ MORE: Pascal Struijk's amusing Jesse Marsch moment after Holland-USA and a special van Gaal phone call
Ayling in Summerville’s ear
Sunday’s opening session in Spain culminated in Leeds playing out training matches on various pitch sizes. During one break in play Luke Ayling was seen chatting to Crysencio Summerville.
The pair were playing against one another in opposing sides and the team’s vice-captain was keen to give the Dutch winger feedback on the previous passage of play. Ayling was telling Summerville how he could have done things better when taking him on in the right-back position.
Dallas in good spirits
Dallas is still on the long road back from that horrific leg break of April 30, but has been seen without a leg brace and taking bigger and bigger roles in training across the last few weeks. Marsch had maintained for several weeks the Northern Irishman would be with the squad on the camp and he was in high spirits watching from the sidelines on Sunday.
After a quip at the large media presence (two journalists) watching on, he was in and around the staff while his team-mates trained. Lots and lots of running is how Dallas’s Spanish programme has been described.
Rock, paper, scissors
In the latter stages of Sunday’s session, the squad divided into two teams playing a full match on a shortened pitch with the goals on the edge of the 18-yard boxes. Marsch was keen to stress just how important he was taking this session.
Throw-ins, offsides and even a score was kept as the players were encouraged to be full-blooded in their efforts on the field. So much so, who took kick-off required rock, paper, scissors.
Mateusz Klich would adjudicate as Mateo Joseph and Adam Forshaw thrashed out the honours.
Maric’s status
Marsch’s assistant head coach, Rene Maric, has not been seen beyond his muted role on the touchline in matches. The 30-year-old arrived at Elland Road with a massive reputation and his importance to the team became clearer in training.
While the head coach led the session from the middle of the pitch, Maric was another voice bellowing instructions and observations from the sidelines. The Austrian’s keen eye picked out several areas of improvement throughout the session.
There was also a personal touch evident. Between drills, Maric could be seen taking time with individuals. Sonny Perkins, for example, had an arm around the shoulder and a word in the ear.
Afters and extras
Sam Greenwood, Forshaw and Jack Harrison were the trio seen doing extras on the pitch after the main session. All three were taking free-kicks at Dani van den Heuvel in goal.
Cooper in the wars once more
There was one edgy moment in training when captain Liam Cooper went down with some discomfort. Rob Price was alert to the issue, but thankfully the skipper was quickly back on his feet and playing a full role in the rest of the session.
As he came off at the end of the workout, Cooper verbally rolled his eyes with a wry remark about being in the wars once again.
READ NEXT:
'We'll be back' - Leeds United star issues defiant message after USA World Cup exit
Leeds United's Tyler Adams criticised for 'one mistake he's made this entire tournament'
Four Leeds United players missing on opening day of Spain camp with Bamford in Germany
Leeds United see decisive 24 hours transform winter focus as Spain training camp gets underway
'It's wild' Leeds United supporters react to another injury set-back to striker Patrick Bamford
