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Leeds United will resume pre-season training on July 2 and expect to have a new manager in place by then.
Leeds United will resume pre-season training on July 2, barely five weeks before the start of the Championship season against Cardiff City. It’s a shorter pre-season campaign than usual, and the new manager will have a lot to get done to prepare his team for the road ahead.
As in previous years, the squad is anticipated to go through a number of tests on the first day of training before stepping out onto the field for their first pre-season workouts. If he is appointed in time, it will be the new head coach’s first opportunity to see his squad on the Thorp Arch grass, and he will no doubt be eager to make an impression.
He has a few things to complete right after his appointment, but he also has a few concerns to deal with. Here’s a look at the issues he faced on the first day of preseason.
Leeds will begin pre-season without a recognized senior goalkeeper due to international commitments. Illan Meslier, whose future is unknown, is now with France Under-21s in the U21 European Championships, which means he will be allowed an extended rest before returning to Thorp Arch.
The same can be said for Kristoffer Klaesson, who is now playing for Norway’s U21 team. Norway’s chances of going to the knockout stages appear limited at the moment, with only one group stage game remaining against Italy, but the goalie is still anticipated to miss at least the first few days of pre-season.
Leeds did release Joel Robles with an offer to return for pre-season training, but there are no assurances, which means Dani van den Heuvel, who just turned 20, might be the lone goalkeeper at Thorp Arch during the first week. By any metric, that is far from ideal.
Leeds will have a few midfielders reporting for duty on July 2, but it’s safe to say they won’t be flooded with established midfield options in training. Marc Roca is currently scheduled to appear, although that is subject to a shift in the coming days.
Tyler Adams’ injury status is unknown after missing the previous two and a half months of the Whites’ Premier League campaign with a hamstring ailment, but he will be on the list to train as well if he is fit. The American has been linked with a number of top-flight clubs, but it appears increasingly doubtful that he will play in the Championship next season.
Sam Greenwood and Jamie Shackleton will return to Thorp Arch, while Darko Gyabi, Archie Gray, and Lewis Bate will all train with the first squad. However, for the new boss, the absence of midfield faces will further highlight the urgency of adding to their ranks before the August 6 match against Cardiff City.
Adam Forshaw might return for training because he was given a similar offer to Robles following his release, which would undoubtedly help.
Whoever Leeds appoints as manager will require the assistance of a backroom staff. Michael Skubala is the club’s lone outfield first-team coach at the moment, and while he is undoubtedly capable, more assistance is required to give the new main man the best chance of hitting the ground running and properly communicating his message.