Leeds United's players will return for pre-season training in a fortnight's time. And six weeks from now denotes when United will begin their Premier League campaign.
Given the Championship title lift happened a little over seven weeks ago, we are now closer to the new campaign than the old one. Time moves quickly.
A lot has happened since the bus parade and a lot will unfold before Everton come to Elland Road on the opening night. Some of the players who ended last season with Leeds will be elsewhere by August 18. A few may return to Thorp Arch before finding new homes.
It seems unlikely that all contracted players will arrive back for pre-season on schedule with Spain’s Mateo Joseph and Italy’s Wilfried Gnonto taking part in the Under-21 European Championships this month. But those who do report back to base will know what to expect.
United players, as in previous years, are set to undergo a few days of testing at the state-of-the-art Carnegie School of Sport facility at Leeds Beckett University. The complex boasts a 60-metre indoor running track, ‘environmental’ chambers and performance analysis laboratories.
Players will undergo the measuring of several bio metrics, such as leg load and aerobic capacity, using specially-designed equipment. Body scans can also be carried out. There will otherwise be some running drills on grass, with the infamous ‘bleep test’ typically included.
In fact, most of the first week will be focused on fitness, with running very much the main agenda given it will be two months since non-international squad members last played. Daniel Farke is known for liking to push his players during this early summer phase.
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A number of players noted this last summer and believed it aided their ability to find a second-wind late on in matches during the season. Leeds ended the league campaign with the most goals scored after 75 and also 90 minutes.
Traditionally a period that few enjoy, there will be moments of reprieve for the players - some light ball work will be done at various stages to break up the testing. Meanwhile, some will carry out club media activities.
The week will be especially important for United’s new signings. Jaka Bijol’s arrival is expected to be confirmed imminently and he, like Lukas Nmecha, will be meeting new colleagues for the first time.
This will include returning loanees such as Jack Harrison, Darko Gybai, Charlie Crew, Joe Gelhardt and Sam Greenwood. With Bijol’s fee thought to be more than £17million, Leeds will essentially welcome back around £25m’s worth of players when the market value of loanees are tallied together.
How much longer these loanees will stick around is unclear. What is certain is that more new faces will be arriving at United before deadline day on September 1, albeit with a reduced bedding-in period after July 7.
Leeds kick off their friendly schedule against Manchester United in Stockholm on July 19, a little under two weeks after the players return to work.
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