Leeds United held Villarreal to a 1-1 draw as injuries affected their pre-season prep. _(Image: PA)_
**LEEDS United’s preparations for their return to Premier League action are being hindered by a variety of pre-season injuries.**
Five senior players sat out the Whites’ 1-1 home friendly against Spanish side Villarreal on Saturday and manager Daniel Farke was able to breath a sigh of relief that his men came through a fiesty game without any additions to the treatment room.
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Wingers Dan James and Jack Harrison, right-back Jayden Bogle, new duo Lucas Perri and Sebastian Bournauw were all absent from the team-sheet.
Bogle is Farke’s greatest concern with a hip injury which has already rule him out of this Saturday’s final friendly against AC Milan and possibly the season’s opener against Everton on Monday, 18 August.
Although the 35,272 Elland Road crowd were unable to see Brazilian goalkeeper Perri, who has arrived from Lyon with a minor injury, and ex-Wolsburg defender Bornauw, who picked up a quad strain in United’s training camp in Germany, there were newcomers on show.
The starting line-up included ex-Hoffenheim man Anton Stach alongside former Newcastle man Sean Longstaff in midfield, while Gabriel Gudmundson, from Lille, impressed at left-back and Lukas Nmecha from Wolfsburg was the lone striker.
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The giant Slovenian international centre-back Jaka Bijol was among a raft of second half-substitutes which included York-raised Sam Byram, the 31-year-old full-back having signed a one-year extension to his Leeds contract in the summer.
The only United players to complete he full 90 minutes were skipper Ethan Ampadu and his Joe Rodon, both stand-out performers in last season’s Championship-winning squad.
Farke has recognised that his side requires a greater physical presence in the Premier League and all the newcomers, apart from Longstaff, are six-foot plus.
Last season Leeds dominated possession in the Championship, something they are unlikely to repeat at the top level so his team selections are likely to be based on solidity rather than flair.
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As befits a side who qualified for the Champions League by finishing fifth in La Liga last season, Villarreal provided Leeds with a stern test, having long spells of possession and drew two smart saves from first-half goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
Leeds, playing 4-3-3, had their moments with Nmecha drawing a couple of stops from netminder Luiz Junior but the visitors just had the edge in a game which both sides struggled for fluency.
Villarreal went ahead on 62 minutes when Illan Meslier did well to tip a Gerard Moreno header onto the bar but Etta Eyong reacted quickest to nod in the rebound.
The visitors lead lasted five minutes. Brenden Aaronson, operating on the right wing in the absence of James, put in his usual hard-working shift and the American’s persistence was key to United’s leveller.
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Wriggling past his marker his cross was miscued in the box by defender Santiago Mourino straight to Joel Piro who gobbled up the chance.
Leeds have spent about £75m during the summer but more arrivals are expected in the next few weeks with Farke keen to strengthen his attacking options.