Leeds United Pre-Season Preview

Leeds United look to begin a new era under new boss Uwe Rosler this season, but face a tough start to the Championship campaign with opening fixtures against Burnley, Reading, Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County. However this will be nothing compared to the pre-season the Mighty Whites have! Here are the current confirmed fixtures!

HARROGATE TOWN (A) - 10th JULY - KO 7.30PM

United open up against non-league outfit Harrogate Town, who have become a regular friendly fixture over the past few years. It should be a chance for Rosler to tinker with his side and see how his fringe players are looking after a few weeks of training. We can't imagine Leeds going in too hard for this one, but a comfortable win should be in order.

VERDICT - 5-1 WIN

YORK CITY (A) - 15th JULY - KO 7PM

Another match in Yorkshire sees the Whites travel to the city which gave its name to the county. The League Two side will provide a sterner test than Harrogate and will be no pushovers. We may see more of any new signings that may be made here as well as first-team players. It will be a good way to ease the players in to the tougher games that are to come.

VERDICT - 3-1 WIN

EINTRACHT FRANKFURT (N) - 21st JULY - KO 6.15PM

United's training camp in Austria concludes with a tricky match against a German side who finished 9th in the Bundesliga last season and beat Bayer Leverkusen on the final day of last season. Expect all the big boys to be out for this game, which was hastily arranged after the cancellation of the much anticipated clash against Spanish giants Athletic Bilbao.* This will be areal challenege for Rosler's men and we should be able to see where we stand for the new season.

VERDICT - 3-2 LOSS (SORRY GUYS)

*I believe the Bilbao clash has been cancelled as it was due to take place on the 21st July, although I can't find confirmation anywhere!

TSG 1899 HOFFENHEIM (N) - 25th JULY - KO 6PM

The Mighty Whites then travel to Norway for another training camp which will feature a match against another Bundesliga side in TSG Hoffenheim. The German club finished 8th in the German top tier last season, a remarkable feat for a club who were in the fifth tier in 2000. Quite the contrast to the fortunes of Leeds. The match will take place at Rosler's old club Lillestrom FK and will be Leeds' last fixture before they return to England. Expect to see much of the first team squad competing against top class European opposition. May we worth a trip.

VERDICT - 2-2 DRAW

EVERTON (H) - 1st AUGUST - KO 3PM

Leeds will welcome the blue half of Merseyside to Elland Road for the first time since the Whites dumped to Toffees out of the Capital One Cup 3 years ago. It will be Rosler's last chance to see his side in action before they begin their league campaign at home to Burnley. The match will take place at what is sure to be a busy Elland Road and will be yet another tough test for Rosler's men. The new boss will probably play this match more like a competitive one and utilise much of his first choice XI and fewer subs. 

VERDICT - 2-1 WIN - EXPECT A FLASHBACK TO 2012

So there you have it - a brief summary of what to expect from Leeds' pre-season. It will no doubt be tough and we could expect a couple of defeats, but a few victories will set Rosler's men on their way in a good position for a tough start to the Championship season.