Leeds United team vs Manchester United confirmed as James Trafford decision made
The Leeds United starting line-up for this evening’s pre-season friendly against Man Utd has been confirmed.
The Leeds United starting line-up for tonight’s game against Manchester United has been confirmed with club-record signing James Trafford making his debut.
The Whites face old rivals Manchester United at a sold out, 82,000-capacity Croke Park in Dublin looking to record their fourth straight pre-season win. Daniel Farke’s side beat RB Leipzig 2-0 last weekend after victories over Sunderland and Liverpool in America.
Club-record signing Trafford officially became a Leeds player before that win over Leipzig but did not feature. The £40million goalkeeper instead joined up with his new teammates on Tuesday and was spotted disembarking a plane with the squad at Dublin airport.
Trafford has now been named in the Leeds starting line-up for tonight’s friendly. The goalkeeper will marshal a back three of Tarik Muharemovic, Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw - who could indeed leave Elland Road this summer amid reports of interest from Hamburg.
Jayden Bogle and Rhys Chadwick look set to operate at right and left wing-back respectively, with Ao Tanaka partnering Sean Longstaff in central midfield. Brenden Aaronson gets his first start of pre-season alongside Daniel James and Lukas Nmecha.
Starters from Saturday’s win over RB Leipzig Alex Cairns, Joe Rodon, James Justin, Ethan Ampadu, Harry Wilson and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have all dropped to the bench. Also back in the squad is Noah Okafor, who is yet to feature in pre-season.
Like Trafford, Okafor was spotted getting off the Leeds plane in Dublin after being given an extended summer break following his World Cup exploits with Switzerland. The winger has fond memories of facing Manchester United, who he scored twice against at Old Trafford in April.
Starting-XI in full: Trafford; Bornauw, Bijol, Muharemovic; Bogle, Tanaka, Longstaff, Chadwick; James, Aaronson, Nmecha
Subs: Cairns, Mahady, Lienou, Justin, Rodon, Cresswell, Ampadu, Stach Okafor, Mills, Wilson, Gnonto, Calvert-Lewin, Piroe