What we learned from Leeds United's first day of pre-season trainingThe Whites released a video of the players' first day back at Thorp Arch on Monday.
By Beren CrossDigital Sports Writer 14:00, 25 JUN 2019
Leeds United’s squad, in the main, returned to Thorp Arch on Monday for the start of pre-season ahead of 2019/20.
Just five-and-a-half weeks have passed since Derby County ended the Whites’ promotion dreams at Elland Road, but already focus is on the new campaign.The club released a video compilation of the first day back and here we pick through what we learned from the 100 seconds of footage released.
Which established first-team players are definitely back?
This is the full list of players recorded training with the main group at Thorp Arch:
Bailey Peacock-Farrell
Luke Ayling
Barry Douglas
Adam Forshaw
Liam Cooper
Kemar Roofe
Patrick Bamford
Tyler Roberts
Will Huffer
Stuart Dallas
Kalvin Phillips
Gaetano Berardi
Kiko Casilla
Leif Davis
Jack Clarke
Jordan Stevens
Alfie McCalmont
As head of medicine and performance Rob Price confirmed today, all of the players injured at the end of last term are now fully fit.
Douglas and Forshaw can be seen running with the rest of the group in the video, along with Davis, who had knee surgery in the latter part of 2018/19.
Despite posting social media updates from abroad on Sunday, Bamford and Casilla both made it back to Thorp Arch for the Monday start too.
And, despite all of the transfer speculation about them, Forshaw, Roofe, Phillips, Casilla and Clarke were all present and correct to underline rumours are rumours for a reason and they have work to do until they are told otherwise.
Which senior names were not included in the video footage?
Those not spotted from last season’s squad include:
Ezgjan Alioski
Pontus Jansson
Pablo Hernandez
Mateusz Klich
Jamie Shackleton
The only one of those who did not play international football during the break was Hernandez.
Predictably, none of those players who were sent out on loan last season were seen at Thorp Arch in the video.
What does the footage tell us about the under-23s stepping up?The under-23 unit was also included in the footage and among those spotted were:
Ryan Edmondson
Robbie Gotts
Kamil Miazek
Pascal Struijk
Mateusz Bogusz
Clarke Oduor
Bryce Hosannah
While Clarke is not much of a surprise, Davis, McCalmont and Stevens were always on the fringes of the first-team unit last term, but are very much in favour on this evidence.
While the above were seen in the blue shirts to separate them from the senior group, these three were in the silver tops of the established pros, hinting at bigger roles for them ahead.
Among the various requests Bielsa made as part of his contract extension, further renovations at the training ground were included.
The swimming pool will be recommissioned, while video analysis of training will step up a level too, however there was some evidence of work around the pitches.
A new running track will be installed at Bielsa’s request and there appeared to be building materials around the edges of one training pitch.
Elsewhere, Roofe posted his own video from inside the changing room at Thorp Arch, which is also due to be changed to replicate those at Elland Road.
All fitness so far
The video consisted entirely of check-ups, fitness tests indoors and loads of running around the pitches.
There was not a football in sight, but it won’t be long before they’re working on shape out there on the pitches.
https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-united-preseason-training-bielsa-16483378