Red Bull Leeds - Ready for take-off

United We Stand (Photo by: Tim Green)

Squad numbers released, new shirt bought – that new season feeling is starting to sink in…

Day one of the new season is always greatly anticipated, even off the back of a disappointing Play Off Final defeat. Our friends at Sky try to soften the impact of the big kick-off by staggering the opening games over the weekend, but that won’t spoil the mood at Elland Road.

Apprehension and (dare I say) a little bit of excitement will be the prevailing feelings as Daniel Farke’s side take to the field for the first proper game at Elland Road. On paper, newly promoted Portsmouth shouldn’t be a match for a Leeds side that is starting to feel strong again. The sales of Archie Gray and Summerville are obvious losses for the team, but I’m yet to meet a Leeds fan who doesn’t believe Mateo Joseph is going to fire us back into the Premier League.

Minus the big sales, it’s been quite a sensible transfer window. Bringing in familiar face Alex Cairns was never going to ignite any excitement, but it made sense. The big incoming this summer, and the one that every Leeds fan hoped for, was the return of Joe Rodon. Arguably the best defender in the league made his return following a successful loan last season and will take his place in a largely familiar back line this year. Jayden Bogle, if uninjured, could be the solution to the right-back problem Archie Gray had to solve last season.

On the topic of injuries – in a rare and frankly ludicrous turn of events, it appears Farke will have a full house to choose from come Saturday morning (touch wood). Many still view the squad as quite thin for a gruelling Championship season, so Leeds might need all the good luck they can get in the injury department.

What Leeds need tomorrow is a statement start. The summer began with a statement investment from Red Bull. Whether you like them or not, a record front of shirt sponsorship deal in the EFL is certainly the statement. The players need to match that with an intense, but comfortable, performance. With another year of football under his belt, a player like Ampadu (who has been bestowed the captaincy), will need to use that experience to right the wrongs of last season’s conclusion.

Old, and not so popular, faces return to Elland Road on Saturday. Max Wober and Brenden Aaronson will likely get minutes on the pitch, with the former being highly rated by Daniel Farke. The reception they got during the Valencia game was understandably mixed, but I think we all secretly hope we will be forgetting their previous behaviour come the end of the season.

Whatever happens tomorrow, there is still time to find the missing pieces of the jigsaw. Continuous links to Norwich’s Jonathan Rowe suggest that Leeds are in the market for a Summerville replacement. Hopefully that comes sooner rather than later, as we don’t need a repeat of last summer’s transfer window woes.