Why Tarik Muharemovic may miss first Leeds United game as teammates fly out to US

Tarik Muharemovic may play no part in Leeds United's opening pre-season fixture of the summer.

Leeds signed Muharemovic from Serie A side Sassuolo for £34.1million last week.

The Bosnia-Herzegovina international gave his first interview as a Leeds player at Thorp Arch on Friday.

However, it may be just a little longer yet before he is integrated into the side.

MOT Leeds News reported on Tuesday how the majority of Leeds players are now back training on the grass.

Muharemovic was not among them, however, and nor will he be part of the travelling contingent that heads to the United States on Tuesday.

Tarik Muharemovic to join up with Leeds squad late

Muharemovic will be a regular starter for Daniel Farke next season, having come in to replace Pascal Struijk on the left side of centre-back.

But Farke may not be able to use the defender against Wrexham in Leeds' first pre-season clash in Florida in the early hours of Sunday morning.

As per Leeds Live on Tuesday, Muharemovic is "touch and go" for that game as he is not flying Stateside with his teammates just yet.

Instead, the 23-year-old will head out "later in the week" once he has been given his statutory holiday period.

FIFA rules ensure players are given at least three weeks off by their clubs following their participation at the World Cup.

Bosnia-Herzegovina were eliminated by the United States on 2 July, so that gives Muharemovic another three days off.

What is most likely plan for Muharemovic?

Farke will of course be eager to integrate his two new signings - Harry Wilson being the other - into the side as quickly as possible.

But rushing Muharemovic into the side to face Wrexham would just be daft.

Leeds follow up that game at at Raymond James Stadium in Miami with friendlies against Sunderland and Liverpool over the next fortnight.

Muharemovic will get plenty of minutes under his belt before Leeds then face RB Leipzig, Manchester United and Augsburg closer to home.

The bigger question is how many more new faces will feature between now and the last of those games.

Let's just hope is it more than the two that have so far arrived, as good as those deals have been.