Leeds United are busy preparing themselves for this weekend’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at Elland Road. The Whites are without a win in five and they’ll be desperate to bring that run to an end on Sunday against Mikel Arteta’s table toppers, who have been the team to beat so far this season.
The club have posted a training video on their official channels ahead of the game, providing intriguing insight into how Jesse Marsch’s side are preparing for the game. Here’s a few observations we made.
Dallas progress
Stuart Dallas hasn’t been seen on the field since fracturing his femur while in action for the Whites back in April. Marsch has provided regular updates on his recovery and it would seem the Northern Ireland international is making swift progress.
Read more: Leeds United's Wilfried Gnonto makes award final shortlist alongside Europe's brightest talents
The 31-year-old is one of the first players to feature in this week’s video and he can be seen going through some resistance-based exercises, aimed at strengthening the muscle around his thigh and upper leg. Dallas is still thought to be a few months away from making a playing return but supporters will be encouraged to see him going through the motions in the club gym.
Forshaw and Firpo
Leeds have seen both Adam Forshaw and Junior Firpo pick up issues in the last few weeks but both men feature in the video. Marsch has confirmed that Forshaw went under the knife last week on an issue and is looking at about a month on the sidelines.
As such, it was certainly encouraging to see him in the gym with his teammates, even if his training was light and resistance based. Firpo missed the trip to Crystal Palace through injury, but he can be seen training both in the gym and out on the field, suggesting he could be fit to be involved this weekend.
U21s call-ups
The likes of Sonny Perkins, Mateo Joseph and Darko Gyabi have been training with the first-team for some time as they continue their development at Thorp Arch. Therefore, it was no surprise to see them involved in training leading up to the clash with the Gunners.
However, the likes of Alfie McCalmont, Sean McGurk and Charlie Allen can be seen in the video and they will have been determined to catch the head coach’s eye as they chase a first-team opportunity. The youngsters can be seen getting involved in first-team passing and pressing drills and they look comfortable amongst the club’s most elite.
Senior encouragement
It’s easy to miss but a wholesome moment can be spotted around three and half minutes into the video. Walking as a squad between drills, Rasmus Kristensen can be seen putting his arm around young forward Mateo Joseph, who seems to have made a home for himself within the first-team environment at Thorp Arch.
It was only brief but it could be seen as a moment of approval from Kristensen, who has performed well for the Whites himself over the last couple of weeks.
Striker Struijk
Pascal Struijk was the man who bagged Leeds’ only goal of the game at Selhurst Park on Sunday, capitalising on Brenden Aaronson’s fine work to turn the ball home. It seems goalscoring is something he is getting the hang of, too, with the video concluding with a neat left-footed finish from the left-back.
The Dutchman then spots the camera and cheekily looks down it before returning to his position with a huge grin on his face.
READ NEXT:
Familiar face hoping to make Leeds United mark amid Arsenal fitness doubts
Leeds United's Thorp Arch strategy vindicated as academy rises above Liverpool in new rankings
The change Leeds United need to make to let Brenden Aaronson off the leash
Firpo fitness, Sinisterra's return, the Elland Road factor and Jesse Marsch's Leeds United agenda
Jesse Marsch outlines how Patrick Bamford can return to peak Leeds United form
