Pre-season is over and the Championship curtain-raiser at Bristol City is now the focus of attention for all associated with Leeds United.
The first-team squad may not be where everyone would like it to be, but further reinforcements are far from certain, while players making a late dash away from Elland Road cannot be ruled out, either.
Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Helder Costa and Brighton & Hove Albion ace Ben White have moved to West Yorkshire this summer, though, and the loan duo will be expected to play a big role in our efforts as promotion into the Premier League will be the goal once again.
Whether Marcelo Bielsa hands White or Costa their competitive Whites debuts at Ashton Gate is another matter, and fans on Twitter have been debating who the boss will call on to face the Robins on Saturday, August 4.
The discussion was sparked by prominent United author David Watkins, who suggested Bielsa will favour Kalvin Phillips in his back four over White, and will usher Adam Forshaw into the starting XI to occupy the void left in midfield.
Watkins also expects the boss to field Kiko Casilla between the sticks amid interest from Sevilla, while Stuart Dallas, Liam Cooper and Barry Douglas will make up the remainder of the defence.
Midfield, meanwhile, would see Costa make his competitive Whites debut alongside Forshaw, Mateusz Klich, Jack Harrison and Pablo Hernandez, while Patrick Bamford leads the line on his own.
Here’s how these fans reacted to Watkins’ suggested XI…
Only Phillips can play the Phillips role
— Dom (@dommer14) July 28, 2019
I hope your wrong. KP in a CB role is an amazing waste of talent and Forshaw is awful
— Only Fools and Orta (@WAFLL_92) July 29, 2019
I hope not. Play white forshaw can’t do Phillips job and Phillips is wasted at centre half
— K And L Plastering (@plasterKandL) July 29, 2019
Think White will play with Costa on the bench so: Pablo 7, Klich 10, Forshaw 8. #lufc
— Jack_Attack (@JackReardon43) July 28, 2019
White will defo start, I’d love to see Davis & Shackleton as the full backs
— John Slicer (@JohnSlice80) July 28, 2019
Be surprised if Ben White doesn’t start at CB. So KP in his normal role #lufc #MOT
— Marc F ???????? (@billywigwam13) July 29, 2019
We seem to be using 3 at the back, sadly i think KP could be one v Bristol. This loses what KP brings & what Forshaw can’t do. If 3 at the back is a plan for this ssn it means Bera playing a lot ????
— paul warrick (LUFC) (@paulwarrick3) July 28, 2019
I really do hope not David. Forshaw In KP role is useless. Be surprised if White doesn’t start. I just don’t want to see Forshaw in starting 11 so probably biased.
— Diddlysquat (@markrikko) July 28, 2019
I hope you’re wrong David! To start the season with KP along side Coops will affirm our fears and belief that we’ve had a poor transfer window and are a weaker squad without Pontus
— Derek Read (@Read_madongolf) July 29, 2019
Still need to add but even if we do gonna be weeks to get them up to Bielsa’s physical demands!!! Very poor transfer window once again. Dont see the point of Orta! Squad way to small. Costa and White not enough. Cant see even play offs this season.
— k9myp (@k9myp) July 28, 2019