Leeds United will finally begin their Premier League return with next Monday night’s visit of Everton - but five players are doubtful for the contest for which five more are back.
Unlike the 2023-24 campaign which went all the way to the Championship play-off final, Daniel Farke’s Whites were able to enjoy an ‘earlier’ finish to the 2024-25 season from which they went up as second tier champions.
Indeed, Leeds had secured promotion with nine days of April still remaining as their 6-0 thrashing of Stoke City on Easter Monday was followed by a 1-0 victory for Burnley against Sheffield United which sent the Whites and Clarets up.
That meant the final two games were all about fighting it out for the title which Leeds sealed in dramatic fashion through a last gasp 2-1 success at Plymouth Argyle on the final day of the Championship season on Saturday, May 3.
Fourteen long weeks have passed since but Leeds will finally be back in competitive action on Monday night as Everton arrive at Elland Road for the first game of the new season.
However, even after a 14-week break, there are doubts about key men for the contest for which five more are back.
Both teams took in their final pre-season friendlies on Saturday and here we run through the early injury news from both sides with a key Whites man among the doubts.
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1. OUT: Jaka Bijol
The one Leeds player definitely out, Bijol serving a one-match suspension for his red card in his final game for Udinese in Serie A. | Getty Images
2. OUT: Jarrad Branthwaite
The one Everton player definitely out and a big blow, key centre back Branthwaite having suffered a hamstring injury in training and already ruled out by Moyes. | Getty Images
3. DOUBT: Jayden Bogle
The real big wait and see for Daniel Farke's Whites, clear first choice right back Bogle having missed his side's final two friendlies due to a hip flexor issue. Farke revealed on Wednesday that the defender was part-integrated back into team training on Wednesday and that he was then due to return to full training on Friday. The Whites boss said a late decision would then be made based on how Bogle came through the sessions ahead of Everton's visit. | Getty Images
4. DOUBT: Vitaliy Mykolenko
A possible big blow for the Toffees. First choice left back Mykolenko started Saturday's friendly against AS Roma but limped off after just 11 minutes with what appeared a groin injury. That said, Moyes said at Friday's pre-match press conference that it was possible that Mykolenko could be back for Monday night's opener. | Getty Images
5. DOUBT: Harrison Armstrong
Eighteen-year-old Everton midfielder Armstrong missed last weekend's friendly against Roma due to a minor thigh strain suffered in training. He too has a chance of being back to face Leeds. | Getty Images
6. DOUBT: Nathan Patterson
Another potential big blow for the visitors but another player who Moyes has said might return in time for Monday night - Scotland international right back Patterson having being assessed on hernia symptoms. | Getty Images