Leeds United will spend pre-season in the UK with Spanish team among the opposition - Leeds Live
A foreign training camp has been ruled out as part of Leeds United’s pre-season plans to kick-start a 2018/19 promotion push.
Discussions had been held about a pre-season trip to mainland Europe, namely Portugal and Italy, which was the first choice until the 11th hour.
However, the Whites have now decided they will remain in the UK and lay the foundations for their promotion tilt on home soil.
Time is of the essence for United in pre-season and there is a reluctance to dedicate two whole days for travelling, plus the added expense of the trip, which was expected to be between a week and 10 days in length.
Leeds United have already spent a lot of time travelling since the end of last season, including Myanmar(Image: YE AUNG THU/AFP/Getty Images)
Therefore, the bulk of the first-team squad is expected to return for training on June 25, when they will be greeted by three gruelling weeks of double sessions.
The first friendly was announced this morning. Forest Green Rovers will host the Whites at The New Lawn on July 17 in a 7pm kick-off.
There will then follow a relentless period of regular matches and little rest in an effort to get the players in shape for a Championship campaign which many careers are resting on.
Matches are expected on July 17, 19, 21, 24, 26 and 29 before the season starts on the first weekend of August.
The match on July 21 is only pencilled in for now, but if confirmed, will be the showpiece of the summer for Paul Heckingbottom’s side.
Elland Road will not be ready to host football until July 29(Image: Daniel Smith/Getty Images)
The rest of the opposition will be largely domestic, but one Spanish side has been confirmed to face United. Benfica will not host United, as they announced several weeks ago.
Due to Josh Warrington’s boxing match and England’s friendly with Costa Rica on June 7, Elland Road will not be ready to host any football until July 29, the final friendly of the summer.
A full announcement is expected from the club later this afternoon.