Hearts v Leeds Utd Match Thread – Georginio Rutter leads the line
Leeds conclude their pre-season tour, with a 500 mile round trip to Edinburgh to face Heart of Midlothian on Sunday
afternoon. Confidence will be high following their heroics against Nottingham Forest, as Daniel Farke makes last minute
tweaks, in preparation for the season opener a week on Sunday, with the visit of Cardiff City.
Leeds recorded their first victory since the beginning of April against Forest on Thursday night. Leeds started brightly, and
could have gone ahead early on, only for Sinisterra’s effort to cannon off the post, and away to safety. Although having all the
traditional hallmarks of a pre-season friendly, Leeds looked a tidy outfit. They were well organised, passed the ball well, and
competed on an even keel against Premier League opposition.
The deadlock was broken with 25 minutes left on the clock. Gelhardt pressurised Worrell into making a suicidal back pass to
his keeper, which inadvertently went straight to Bamford, with only Horvath to beat. They put the game to bed on 85
minutes after a well executed move involving Shackleton, Gray and Rutter. Poveda’s effort from the edge of the area capped
off an enjoyable evening for Leeds fans, and will give Daniel Farke, food for thought about whether Poveda may still have a
future at Elland Road.
Tyler Adams, Jack Harrison and Stuart Dallas are all long term absentees ahead of Sunday’s game, whilst Junior Firpo and
Cody Drameh are both carrying knocks. Crysencio Summerville picked up a concussion against Monaco last weekend, and as
a precaution, missed the midweek victory at the Pirelli Stadium.
Ayling and Hjelde look to start in the wing back positions with Byram and Shackleton on the bench. Cresswell and Cooper
played well together at centre-back last time out, but it’s Struijk who will start alongside the captain this afternoon. Sam
Greenwood was pictured with his foot in a space-boot cast, though little is known about his injury, or when he’ll be back.
Illan Meslier looks set to play his final match for Leeds, with new man Karl Darlow on the bench.
Ethan Ampadu will be the main man in midfield alongside Gray, Summerville and James with Georginio Rutter leading the
line. Thursday’s star man Ian Poveda will start on the bench alongside Gnonto, Matteo Joseph, Bamford, Gelhardt and
Gyabi. Klaesson makes up numbers on the bench.
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