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LUFC A look back at pre season

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With pre season now complete and we look forward to the new championship season starting at Southampton next weekend we take a look at how the side have done.

Leeds finished their pre season unbeaten, winning four games and drawing two.

It also players emerging into the side with the likes of Tom Lees, Adam Clayton and Ramon Nunez all impressing.

It also saw the returns of Patrick Kisnorbo, Ben Parker and Lloyd Sam, who missed almost all or most of last season through injury.

New signings Paul Rachubka and Michael Brown were both included as Leeds started pre season with a two game tour of Scotland.

Simon Grayson used the games as an opportunity to give his whole squad a run out with a number of first year professionals regularly involved.

Leeds returned from Scotland with two wins under their belts.

It all kicked off with a 2-0 win at Scottish First Division side Falkirk. Goals either side of half time ensured the win. The first was an own goal after a teasing ball into the middle by Nunez and the second a rare header by Snodgrass.

Leeds had to come from behind to beat Scottish Premier League side Motherwell in their second game.

Ross McCormack missed a great opportunity to give Leeds the lead when he saw his penalty kick saved.

Motherwell made Leeds pay when Murphy fired the home side ahead shortly afterwards.

Leeds left it late before turning the game around. Alex Bruce and then a superb individual goal from Ramon Nunez secured a 2-1 win.

League One side Rochdale was the next port of call for Leeds and they made it three wins from three with a 1-0 win thanks to a Max Gradel goal.

Leeds also included three trialists in their squad. Former Aston Villa duo J. Lloyd Samuel and Isaiah Osbourne played as well as an unnamed trialist who was eventually revealed as French winger Alexandre Mendy.

Next up for Leeds was a Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Wednesday took an early lead through former Leeds favourite David Prutton.

Leeds salvaged a draw inside the final ten minutes when Gradel fired home from the spot after being fouled in the area.

Another trialist played in the Wednesday game with Hungarian international left back Boldiszar Bodor joining up with the Leeds squad.

Scandinavia was the next destination for Leeds and a game against Sandefjord.

Ross McCormack missed his second penalty of pre season and it looked to prove costly when the home side went ahead in the dying minutes.

Leeds managed to maintain their unbeaten pre season when Nunez fired home from distance with the help of a deflection.

The pre season campaign finished with a home game against Premier League side Newcastle United.

Another new signing made his debut for Leeds, with goalkeeper Andy Lonergan joining from Preston North End earlier in the week.

Leeds ran out 3-2 winners in an entertaining game at Elland Road that saw Leeds take the lead on three occasions.

Patrick Kisnorbo, Lloyd Sam and Billy Paynter were all on target for Leeds as they finished their pre season campaign with a good performance.

The highlights of pre season have been the emergence of Ramon Nunez, who really looks like he could take the championship by storm and Adam Clayton who has looked accomplished in midfield.

There have also been the returns to fitness of Kisnorbo, Parker and Sam who are like new signings for Leeds this season.

The biggest downside to pre season is the loss of strikers Luciano Becchio and Davide Somma.

Becchio suffered a reoccurrence of the hamstring injury that forced him to miss the end of last season and will now sit out the start of the new season.

It was worse news for Somma who suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury and looks set to miss the vast majority of the season.

The serious stuff now starts with a trip to Southampton on Saturday and as always, it is bound to be an emotional rollercoaster of a ride over the next nine months.

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