Daniel Farke’s Whites have now returned from their pre-season training camp in Germany where Leeds took in two behind-closed-doors friendlies against Hannover 96 and Schalke 04. Both games ended in Whites victories, making it three wins on the spin following the opening 2-0 success at Harrogate Town before the Whites left for Germany.
Farke lined up with a new formation at Harrogate featuring three centre backs but then reverted to last season’s preferred 4-2-3-1 system in Germany where the Whites recorded a 4-1 win against Hannover and 2-0 success against Schalke.
Changes in both games were aplenty, and Leeds will now take in their final friendly ahead of the new Championship campaign with Saturday’s Elland Road clash against La Liga side Valencia. The final friendlies are usually seen as a guide to the forthcoming season’s new first choice XI and this is how we think Farke will set Leeds up.
7. CM: Joe Rothwell
A very hard call between summer signing Rothwell and Ilia Gruev, both of whom have impressed in pre-season. Perhaps Rothwell will just about get the nod. Photo: LUFC
8. RW: Willy Gnonto
Star man Crysencio Summerville is clearly top of the wingers pecking order but the Dutchman missed the friendly against Schalke with a hamstring injury. Dan James, who might well be viewed as the other first choice winger starter, has also been out with an adductor issue. Everything then points to Gnonto starting, a player who could clearly be viewed as a first choice starter in any case. The Italian was used on the right flank in Germany so that looks the way to go. Photo: George Wood
9. LW: Brenden Aaronson
Aaronson has featured heavily in pre-season and looks like being a key part of Farke's plans on his return from last season's loan escape to Union Berlin. Leeds, it should be remembered, paid £25m to sign him. The American is an obvious contender for the no 10 role but lined up on the left flank in Germany and another start there now looks likely given the injuries to Summerville and James. Photo: Tim Nwachukwu
10. ACM: Georginio Rutter
Record signing Rutter has been straight back to it this summer and looks to have returned with a real spring in his step. An obvious starter, just a case of in which position in the front line, most likely as a no 10 if Aaronson starts out wide. Photo: Ed Sykes
11. ST: Mateo Joseph
Here we go then, 20-year-old Joseph's chance to finally shine as first choice no 9. Well, not quite there yet, and it may be that Farke opts for Piroe upfront and Joseph from the bench. But Joseph has again looked extremely impressive in pre-season and surely the natural call is to now finally hand him his chance, especially with Patrick Bamford still not back in the mix on the trail back from a knee injury. Photo: LUFC