Striker Ross McCormack's future may have been shrouded in speculation this summer, but he was one of only a handful of survivors from last season's trip to Norway who started the game in Sandefjord on Wednesday.

Ross captained the team and only Michael Brown, Tom Lees, and Aidy White remained from the side which drew 1-1 in Scandinavia last summer as Neil Warnock's wholesale squad changes begin to take effect.

"Out of the team that started last year there wasn't many of us over here which shows the changes, but when you have a season like last year, which wasn't good enough for Leeds United, there's always going to be change," said Ross.

"The boys that we've brought in are good lads. We had a good chance to get to know each other in Cornwall, and I've played against lads like David Norris so you get to know them anyway. The more good players there are in the squad the better it is. That will drive the player in the team to deliver their best stuff every game."

The United side is beginning to take shape, and there has been a consistency about the pre-season selections which shows, despite the expected addition of further new faces, how the team is shaping up in readiness for a crack at a promotion.

"The core of the group is here," said Ross. "If you look through the middle of the team, you've got Pearcey, Leesy, and Martin Cranie who I hope will get a deal.

"In the midfield you've got Michael Brown, David Norris, Rodolph Austin, who is supposed to be a good player, and Paul Green, then there's Paddy Kenny and Jamie Ashdown, and don't forget Luciano up front.

"So the core of the team, the spine down the middle is looking good. It's maybe out in other areas and getting a few bodies in."

Given the speculation about his own future, it looked at one time as though maybe Ross wouldn't be a part the new-look United side. But with the season less than two weeks away and after a good pre-season campaign, the goalscoring Scot remains firmly a Leeds United player.

"Everyone knows there has been offers for me which have come into the club, and the club have turned them down," said Ross. "I'm just waiting on an offer of a new contract and we'll take it from there.

"I've said from day one, I've got a house here, I've got an eight month old baby, my missus is happy here, and my choice would be to stay at Leeds so hopefully the offer is one that I think is acceptable."

United boss Neil Warnock has also confirmed that talks are due to take place with the striker about his future.

"Ross knows I want to keep him," said the boss. "I've had a chat with him. His representative will be talking to the club over the next few days.

"We've had a couple of enquiries for him, but I don't want to sell him unless something happens that we can't turn down."