Predicted Leeds United XI to face Harrogate Town in first friendly as three exit-linked players start

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Leeds United play their opening pre-season friendly of the summer at Harrogate Town tonight.

It is the first time Leeds have been in action since the play-off final defeat to Southampton back in May, and there have been plenty of changes to the squad since then.

As many as 13 – 14 if you include the unsigned contract of Liam Cooper – have already left Elland Road since then, two of which started at Wembley in Archie Gray and Glen Kamara.

Daniel Farke‘s squad is likely to have a young feel to it given the amount of fringe players who have moved on.

It will also be interesting to see which of the exit-linked players feature in North Yorkshire, with speculation continuing to mount of several of them.

It is always difficult to predict a starting XI in pre-season, but here is our attempt.

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Goalkeeper

Illan Meslier has been tenuously linked with a move this summer but at this stage, looks like he will start the season as number one. Karl Darlow will also be keen on some minutes.

Defence

Having lost Connor Roberts, Jamie Shackleton, Charlie Cresswell Gray and Cooper, Leeds do not have any first team depth to backup their current back four.

As such, fitness providing, it almost picks itself. Sam Byram is likely to line-up at right-back, with Junior Firpo on the other flank, despite reports he has agreed personal terms with Real Betis.

In central defence, Joe Rodon and Pascal Struijk will be able to reignite their partnership for the first time since Boxing Day, providing the latter is fully recovered from that long-term injury.

Midfield

With no Kamara or Gray, Leeds’ midfield options are a little threadbare in comparison to what they were, however new signing Joe Rothwell and promising youngster Charlie Crew will help with that.

However, it would not be a surprise if Ethan Ampadu and Ilia Gruev started together in the middle, though the evidence is already there they cannot play together and hopefully they do not start the season as first choice.

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Attack

One position Leeds do have plenty of options right now is in the front four, despite ongoing speculation over both Crysencio Summerville and Willy Gnonto’s futures.

Just like in the play-off final, they could both start alongside Georginio Rutter. Mateo Joseph deserves to lead the line, with him determined to make the position his own.

This match will come too early for Brenden Aaronson, who has only returned to pre-season in the last couple of days.

Patrick Bamford’s availability is also uncertain having had his involvement this summer managed due to the injury he had towards the end of the season. Dan James and Joel Piroe are other options for Farke.

Predicted Leeds XI: Meslier; Byram, Rodon, Struijk, Firpo; Ampadu, Gruev; Gnonto, Rutter, Summerville; Joseph