Leeds United will learn their route through the 2023-24 Championship campaign on Thursday morning when the new season’s fixtures will be released. The Whites are still reeling from losing their Premier League status, but the competitive action is due get underway in just over six weeks’ time, with the first round of fixtures scheduled for early August.
United, then, will have their eyes firmly fixed on being ready for the new campaign and the release of the fixtures certainly brings the campaign into view. With that in mind, here’s a look at what to look out for on Thursday morning.
The first month
It’s already been a summer of change at Elland Road, but there’s plenty of work to do when it comes to their new season preparations. A new head coach sits at the top of the list of priorities, but a number of changes to the squad are expected be made, too, with key men leaving and reinforcements coming in.
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The transfer window doesn’t close until September 1 and the first few fixtures could give an indication of how much work the club need to do before it slams shut in order to launch a push for promotion. Leeds might find themselves hoping for a softer landing in the second tier as they dust themselves down.
But a tough opening month would certainly put Leeds under the microscope and highlight any shortcomings while they still have time in the window. As such, all eyes will be on those first five or six games and Leeds will be looking to hit the ground running.
Reunions
There’s more than a few familiar faces in the Championship and one of the most high-profile names is former Whites manager Neil Warnock. He’s taken the Huddersfield Town job on a permanent basis and he’ll no doubt be looking forward to the trip to Elland Road with the Terriers.
Carlos Corberan remains in charge at West Bromwich Albion, of course, despite being heavily linked with the vacant role at Leeds. Assuming he stays at The Hawthorns, he’ll fancy his chances of getting one over his former club, where he coached for several years under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa.
Ex-Leeds players are strewn throughout the Championship, with the likes of Lewie Coyle (Hull City), Leif Davis (Ipswich Town), Jonny Howson (Middlesbrough), Jack Clarke (Sunderland) and Lewis Baker (Stoke City) preparing to face their former club. There could be a quick reunion for Tyler Roberts, too, who appears on the verge of joining Birmingham City.
Rivalries revived
There’s no love lost between Leeds and a handful of clubs in the Championship. Fans ought to be looking out for the first Yorkshire derbies of the season, with games against Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday and even Hull always providing fine atmospheres and a touch of animosity.
Further afield, it’s fair to say supporters of Leeds and Millwall are not on friendly terms. The clashes with fellow relegated sides Leicester City and Southampton will intrigue from a competitive point of view, as well.
Festive fixtures
The return to the Championship means Leeds can expect to see a hectic Christmas period on the schedule for the upcoming season. Depending on what day of the week the big day falls, clubs can end up playing three or potentially even four games in the space of just a week and a half.
It’s a gruelling time for every football club and Whites supporters will be keen to see their side handed some kinder fixtures during that time in the hope that they can get points on the board quickly and effectively. They’ll also be hoping to avoid the possibility of a lengthy away journey during that period.
The longest trip
Leeds are still reasonably well acquainted with most teams in the second tier after their three-year stint in the top flight and those who travel to away games probably won’t be collecting too many ground ticks this season. It’s been some time since Leeds made the journey to Devon to take on Plymouth Argyle, though.
In fact, it’s been almost 17 years, with Leeds last travelling to Home Park in November 2006. That’s by far the longest trip on the calendar and given the way the Pilgrims won promotion from League One, with 101 points in the bag, it promises to be a tricky one, too.
Supporters may well find themselves looking out for that fixture and hoping it isn’t one of the many midweek trips Leeds will have to make.
The run-in
The run-in is always intriguing and with Leeds planning on pushing for promotion, it could well be the difference between a return to the top flight and failure. As such, while there are no easy games in the second tier, Leeds will be hoping to a run of more favourable fixtures to finish off the campaign.
It’s hard to fully judge the run-in at this point of the year, especially in a division as unpredictable as the Championship, but it’s fair to say Leeds probably won’t want to be seeing the likes of Leicester, Southampton, Watford, Norwich or West Brom in the final month of the season.
