Sunday 6th August 2:30pm | Elland Road
Leeds welcome Cardiff City to Elland Road on Sunday lunchtime, hoping to start their 2023-2024 campaign with three points on the board. Bookies make the Whites second favourites for promotion, just behind Leicester City, but marginally ahead of Southampton in what promises to be a roller coaster of a season.
In just over a month Daniel Farke has knocked his new look Leeds side into shape, concentrating on ball retention and tightening up at the back, but finding goals maybe more problematic, especially with their growing injury list, and players departing en masse!
The lure of £200k a week was too good an opportunity for last seasons leading scorer Rodrigo to turn down, even if it meant playing in the Middle-East. Team mates Robin Koch, Max Wober, Brenden Aaronson, Rasmus Kristensen, Marc Roca and Diego Llorente have all gone too, whilst Joel Robles, Tyler Roberts and Adam Forshaw are adjudged to be surplus to requirements.
In have come Ethan Ampadu, a highly skillful and versatile defensive midfielder, who is also well versed with operating at centre back; Karl Darlow, a safe pair of hands from Newcastle Utd, and Sam Byram, an adaptable wing back who came through the Leeds academy. In total, Leeds have spent £7.4m, with more signings expected soon.
Tyler Adams (recovering from hamstring surgery), Stuart Dallas (leg), Patrick Bamford (hamstring), Jack Harrison (hip), Junior Firpo (ligament injury), Cody Drameh (hamstring), Georginio Rutter (muscular) and Sam Greenwood (foot) are all ruled out for the Whites.
It looks likely that Illan Meslier will start the season between the sticks for Leeds. The French U21 shot-stopper had a poor campaign last season, even by Leeds standards, but after consecutive clean sheets against Nottingham Forest and Hearts, should be ahead of Darlow in the rankings.
With Drameh sidelined, Luke Ayling should get the nod over new recruit Sam Byram or Jamie Shackleton. Byram may get his chance at left back, but faces competition from Pascal Struijk and Leo Hjelde. Captain Liam Cooper starts his 10th Elland Road campaign in his favoured centre-back role, probably alongside Charlie Cresswell, who signed a new four year deal earlier this week.
Ethan Ampadu will occupy Tyler Adams role, with 17yo Archie Gray alongside him for company. Crysencio Summerville, Wilfred Gnonto, Dan James, Luis Sinisterra and Ian Povada are all wide players capable of playing up front. In the absence of Messrs Bamford and Rutter, should Leeds turn to Joe Gelhardt and Mateo Joseph or a more experienced duo up front, but out of position?
Cardiff have had mixed fortunes during pre-season, with two wins, two losses and two draws. They are currently under a FIFA transfer embargo which prevents them paying fees for players. This relates to non payment of Emiliano Sala's £15m transfer fee. The player tragically died when the light aircraft he was in, plunged into the English Channel, on his way to Wales.
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...That Ayling goal and "You couldn't script it 
