Leeds United are due to return to Thorp Arch in the coming days to begin their preparations for the new Championship season. There’s a lot to be sorted with a new manager still to be appointed and business to be done in the transfer window.
But, it’s clear that this summer will be huge for a chunk of players on the fringes of the first-team picture. Impress the new man in charge during pre-season training and they could end up having an important role to play over the course of the campaign.
Should they fail to force their way into United plans, they could find themselves struggling for minutes down the line or even facing uncertain futures. Here’s a look at who is facing a huge summer at Thorp Arch.
Kristoffer Klaesson
Klaesson never came close to making a first-team appearance for the Whites last season. The arrival of Joel Robles saw him move down the pecking order and he was forced to make do with a number of run outs for the U21s.
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However, with Robles released and Meslier’s future uncertain, Klaesson, who turns 23 in November, will be watching the club’s situation between the sticks closely, knowing there could be an opportunity for him to stake a claim next month. His international commitments mean he will miss the start of pre-season, but he’ll certainly be keen to catch the new man’s eye when he does return to Thorp Arch.
Leo Hjelde
Like his Norway U21s teammate above, Hjelde will miss the start of pre-season due to their involvement in the U21 European Championships. But, having spent the second half of last season on loan with Rotherham United, he will have his eyes on senior minutes at Elland Road this season.
He impressed in South Yorkshire by all accounts last time around and with clear holes in the backline, there will surely be chances up for grabs if he can put his best foot forward.
Lewis Bate
The midfielder spent last season on loan at Oxford United and he did himself no harm at all with his performances. With the taste of first-team football still fresh in his mouth, he’ll have his eyes on a spot within Leeds’ senior group this time around and a strong summer might just see him claim one.
Leeds are severely depleted in the middle of the park and the new manager will surely be keen to have a look at Bate in order to fill a hole.
Darko Gyabi
All Gyabi has to do is build on his impressive debut campaign with the Whites and he’ll surely be in the first-team picture this season. The midfielder starred for the U21s during their promotion-winning campaign and he’ll be focused on taking the next step on his career by wooing the new man in charge with his performances on the training ground and in friendlies. Another season in the U21s would do him no favours at this point in his career.
Archie Gray
There’s no rush with Gray. He’s still only 17 and will likely spend time playing for the youth side this season. But, given he was named on Premier League benches by Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce last time around, he’s clearly on the brink of a breakthrough and he’ll have his eyes firmly fixed on a senior debut.
Jamie Shackleton
It’s an understatement to say this summer is pivotal when it comes to Shackleton’s career. He was deemed surplus to requirements last summer prior to his loan switch to Millwall, but relegation might provide him with a way back into the fold at Elland Road.
He needs to give the new man food for thought on the training ground and if he can do that he might be able to breathe life into his Whites career.
Joe Gelhardt
Last season did not go to plan for Gelhardt, it’s fair to say. Leeds had high hopes that Gelhardt would be able to kick on, but he couldn’t find any sort of traction whatsoever and ended the season on loan at Sunderland. He has the opportunity to start fresh this summer, though, and if he can rediscover the form he showed during the 2021-22 campaign, he could be a real asset for the Whites.
Sonny Perkins
Perkins scored 13 goals for the U21s last season to well and truly establish himself as one of the best young forwards at that level. What he needs now is first-team minutes and he’ll be looking to secure that this season at Elland Road. Perkins has plenty of competition for places but if he can get himself noticed, he might just be given the chance to make his league debut for the Whites.
Mateo Joseph
Joseph seemed to be ever so slightly ahead of Perkins last season. The England U20 international captained the U21s to promotion, bagging 17 goals in all competitions and securing three run-outs in the Premier League on the back of that form. He needs more senior minutes, though, and he could claim them should he make his mark over the summer.
