Good Morning. It's Monday 10th August, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road...
On loan Chelsea star faces further action after Harry Gray assault
Leeds United youngster Harry Gray is spending the season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, with the 17-year-old looking to gain the regular senior football needed to continue his development. Gray completed his move to Hillsborough earlier this month following a difficult loan spell with Rotherham United last season, and the highly-rated Leeds prospect was handed another opportunity in Wednesday's EFL Cup first-round victory over Bolton Wanderers.However, one of the major talking points came during the second half following an ugly altercation involving Gray and Bolton midfielder Xavier Simons (on loan from Chelsea). Gray attempted to stop Simons from grabbing his shirt, but the incident then escalated, with Simons punching the Leeds youngster in the stomach. The referee subsequently showed Simons a red card for violent conduct. What makes the incident particularly uncomfortable is Gray's age.
Despite already competing in senior professional football, Gray is just 17 years old and is therefore still legally a child. That doesn't afford him any special protection from tackles, physical challenges or the normal rough and tumble of professional football, but deliberately striking an opponent is an entirely different matter. Gray's initial shirt-pull may have been a foul, but it certainly wouldn't justify retaliation of that nature.
The immediate consequence was Simons' dismissal, with violent conduct ordinarily bringing an automatic suspension. However, depending on the referee's report and the circumstances surrounding the incident, it remains to be seen whether the authorities consider any further disciplinary action necessary. For Gray, perhaps the most encouraging aspect was that he refused to be intimidated.
At only 17, he is already being exposed to the physical and occasionally hostile environment of senior football. Those experiences will undoubtedly form part of his development, although being on the receiving end of an alleged punch shouldn't have to be one of them. Most importantly, Gray appears to be making his presence felt at Sheffield Wednesday. And for Leeds, that is exactly what this loan spell is supposed to achieve.
Preparations on track with impressive RB Leipzig win
Leeds United continued their hugely encouraging pre-season preparations with a commanding 2-0 victory over RB Leipzig at Elland Road, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha once again providing the cutting edge. Against a Leipzig side who finished third in the Bundesliga last season, Daniel Farke’s men looked sharper, better organised and increasingly comfortable with the new additions to the squad.Played over 120 minutes to allow Farke to spread the workload, Leeds created the better opportunities throughout and could easily have won by a more convincing margin. The Whites thought they had taken an early lead when Sean Longstaff's corner caused chaos inside the Leipzig six-yard box, only for referee Craig Pawson to rule out the resulting goal for a foul.
Leeds didn't have to wait much longer. Joe Rodon surged forward down the right and delivered an excellent cross into the danger area, where Calvert-Lewin was waiting to clinically dispatch from close range. It continued the striker's impressive pre-season form and offered further evidence that Leeds may finally be seeing the best of a fully fit Calvert-Lewin.
Leeds continued to threaten, with Longstaff particularly influential in midfield. His passing repeatedly opened up Leipzig, while James Justin and Daniel James caused problems with their movement. Harry Wilson came agonisingly close to doubling the advantage after an outstanding long pass from new signing Tarik Muharemović released Justin, whose cut-back found Wilson arriving in the box. His first-time effort flashed narrowly wide.
Farke used the extended encounter to make wholesale changes, introducing Ao Tanaka, Anton Stach, Jaka Bijol, Jayden Lienou and Nmecha as Leeds demonstrated the increased depth available to them. Brenden Aaronson was lively after entering the action, continuing to prove his doubters wrong, with another solid performance.
Gnonto, who came on for the last 30 minutes provided the second, after a clever ball from Aaronson, cutting a ball back for Nmecha to expertly rifle home on 109 minutes. Leeds might even have added a third late on when youngster Alfie Cresswell saw a header crash against the crossbar. Callum Mills too, might have done better when having sight on goal; unfortunately scuffing his shot wide.
The real tests are still to come, but preparations for 2026/27 could hardly be going much better. Next up is another sizeable examination, with Leeds travelling to Dublin's Croke Park on Wednesday evening to face Manchester United.
Absentees Tell Their Own Story
Perhaps just as interesting as those who featured against Leipzig were those who didn't. The continued absence of Largie Ramazani and Joe Gelhardt tells its own story. At this stage of pre-season, being left out of the squad feels like a fairly clear indication that their futures may lie away from Elland Road. Wilfried Gnonto, meanwhile, made only a brief appearance but looked lively when introduced and created Lukas Nmecha's goal. Even so, the limited minutes he received may prompt questions about where he sits in Daniel Farke's plans as competition for places intensifies.The more intriguing talking point was Joel Piroe. While others were omitted altogether, Piroe was named in the squad yet failed to play a single minute during a 120-minute friendly. Given that pre-season is often about building fitness across the group, his complete absence inevitably stood out. Piroe had a reduced role in the Premier League last season and, with Nmecha continuing to impress, supporters will inevitably wonder where he now sits in the pecking order.
Farke, however, was keen to dismiss any suggestion that there is an issue. The Leeds boss praised Piroe's attitude and professionalism, insisting the decision was simply a consequence of needing to give Dominic Calvert-Lewin a full hour after missing part of pre-season, while rewarding Nmecha's strong form with another extended run-out. Leeds are now at the stage where players need meaningful blocks of minutes rather than brief cameos and, according to Farke, that was the only reason behind Piroe's omission.
Noah Okafor's absence appears easier to explain. Having returned late following Club World Cup involvement and with limited training behind him, the upcoming fixtures against Manchester United and Villarreal should provide a much clearer indication of where he fits in Farke's thinking.
