Leeds' trip to the States was never going to be the be-all and end-all but some will travel home pleased and others, with work to do
Ao Tanaka still needs to improve his sharpness
Ao Tanaka still needs to improve his sharpness(Image: Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Leeds United have flown home following their 4-2 win over Liverpool in Chicago and there will be a mixture of feelings from seat-to-seat about how their respective US tour spells panned out.
As is the case with pre-season, conclusions drawn from friendlies should never be definitive but rather merely informative. So those who have had a poor fortnight still have three weeks to get back on track.
And for those who have stood out, there are three weeks to make sure they build on their positive start. Daniel Farke will not be writing anything new in pen in his notebook, though he will have noticed who is in flow and which players need a bit of encouragement.
We have looked at the winners and losers from Leeds' US tour.
WINNERS
Sean Longstaff
Arguably the player of the tour. His two goals were rather different; a superb finish into the corner against Wrexham and a scuffed shot into the net from close range against Liverpool.
It is the other parts of his game that really impressed, a man who looks eager to prove a point, despite his full-time insistence to the contrary. His passing was assured, his initiative admirable and his movement exemplary.
Longstaff failed to start a Premier League game after November last season, with his calf injury and the team’s formation change coming at an inopportune time. Consistent starts won’t be easy to find next season either but keep up his form and he gives himself a fantastic shot.
Tarik Muharemovic and Harry Wilson
Tarik Muharemovic impressed onlookers on debut
Tarik Muharemovic impressed onlookers on debut(Image: Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
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That both new signings have fitted into the team pretty seamlessly is very encouraging. Wilson has shown his promise as a number 10, being the creative spark to take the attacking initiative to the opposition.
Muharemovic excelled in his opening game against Sunderland, hardly putting a front wrong albeit against an admittedly rotated attack. He was not as tranquil against Liverpool but seemed to learn the lessons of the first half for the second period.
Both men have shown signs of adaptation and also impact. This trip to the US also provided the chance to blend with the squad off the field, the players living together in close quarters. It's been a good start from the pair of new faces.
Sebastiaan Bornauw
Bornauw has quietly progressed nicely with each performance. When played in the central centre-back berth, he seems to perform far better than when on either side. More calmed, assured, confident - and successful.
The Belgian made a number of important blocks and kept his head under pressure across his two displays, and even grabbed himself an assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s second against Liverpool. It’d be a mistake to view him as a mere squad filler.
Callum Mills and Jayden Lienou
Callum Mills in action in Tampa
Callum Mills in action in Tampa(Image: Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
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Academy attacker Mills was an unknown to many prior to the tour but he ended up starting two friendlies, the second a reward for his positive output in the first. While evidently still raw, the 17-year-old does not shirk risk and isn’t put off when mistakes happen.
Left-back Lienou is a name more fans will have been aware of and is tipped for a bright future. His overlaps and general reading of the game shone through and him coming on against Liverpool, even if late on, was a nod from Farke about his future hopes.
Alfie Cresswell, who played centre-back, will have also learned a lot this tour amid his two outings. Obviously, all these youngsters have several areas of their game and profile to improve but Mills and Lienou came out as the ones to watch.
LOSERS
Jaka Bijol
It is not known whether he sustained his knee injury before travelling out but that Bijol was taken on tour indicates Leeds had hoped he would at least at some stage take part. He ended the tour with no minutes in the bank.
With three weeks to go there is still time to work up to fitness, but he is on the back foot. He is expected back in training before long. Bijol will have to show he is up to the required levels in the three friendlies that remain to start the opening fixture as many had initially envisaged.
Gabriel Gudmundsson
Gabriel Gudmundsson goes down injured
Gabriel Gudmundsson goes down injured(Image: Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
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Gudmundsson entered camp later on in the tour, having enjoyed his three-week break post World Cup. Naturally, this was evident during his first outing against Sunderland as he tried to shake off the rust.
He never really got going and, aside from one burst up the left, that was the same against Liverpool, prior to his injury. Gudmundsson was left winded after a heavy fall early on and whether that had any bearing is unknown.
What did become apparent was that he was hampered by a leg muscle issue, appearing to be with his hamstring. He had to be taken off 36 minutes into the game, meaning his pre-season schedule is yet further disrupted.
Ao Tanaka
There were moments of positivity from Tanaka, but they were largely outnumbered by mistakes or loose balls. It was his giveaway that led to Wrexham’s winner, though this was after joining up late with the squad after his break post World Cup.
The concern is that his performances did not improve. At times erratic and rushed, the midfielder’s retention of the ball was quite hit-and-miss. Once he was outdone, it left open spaces in midfield. His undercooked levels were not stark but were notable.
Whether that is a hangover from his mistake that led to Brazil’s winner against Japan in the World Cup knockouts, only he will know. Tanaka is a player steeped in promise but only self-assurance and discipline will see him fulfil it.