Willy Gnonto decision made as exit-linked teammate bench – Leeds United starting XI v Cardif
Daniel Farke has named his first Leeds United line-up as Willy Gnonto starts in the season opener at home to Cardiff City on Sunday afternoon (6 August).
Ahead of kick-off, the Whites confirmed via their official Twitter account that Illan Meslier will start in goal, with Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Pascal Struijk and Leo Hjelde in the defence.
Debutant Ethan Ampadu will be joined in midfield by Archie Gray, while Crysencio Summerville, Luis Sinisterra, Dan James and Willy Gnonto will occupy the attacking positions.
On the bench, exit-linked Jamie Shackleton makes the squad, alongside Karl Darlow, Charlie Cresswell, Sam Bryam, Darko Gyabi, Lewis Bate, Ian Poveda, Sonny Perkins and Joe Gelhardt.
Important to start well
It’s important that the Whites get off to a good start this afternoon against Cardiff on their return to the Championship.
It can be quite an unforgiving league at times and Farke will really want to see his side take the game to the opposition and give the Elland Road crowd something to shout about.
It’s so far unknown what can really be expected of Leeds this season after a number of big-name players have departed the club this summer.
But there is still an awful lot of talent that has remained in West Yorkshire and that has been added to by the signings of Ampadu, Darlow and the returning Bryam after leaving the club for West Ham seven years ago.
A home game provides the perfect opportunity to shake off the disappointment of last season’s relegation and begin to look forwards under the new ownership following the takeover by 49ers Enterprises.
There will be many eager eyes across the division watching to see how the Whites get on and they’ll be looking to put a marker down with an opening day victory.
In other Leeds United news, one Whites player could be heading for a move to the Premier League.