Young midfielder Lewis Cook has spoken of his excitement at the new campaign getting underway this weekend, saying all the work United have done in pre-season "boils down to this first game".

Burnley are the visitors at Elland Road this Saturday, as United’s 2015/16 begins with a televised lunchtime kick-off which Uwe Rosler says will provide a “fantastic opportunity” for his side to test themselves.

Cook, a regular fixture throughout pre-season, says he and his team-mates are now raring to get going after weeks of hard work over the summer.

“I’m really excited and I think all the boys are really excited as well," he said.

“All the training we’ve done in pre-season boils down to this first game to get us going. I think it should be a great game.

“It’s been a hard pre-season but it’s been enjoyable getting to know the lads who have come in.

“It’s been tough but I think it’s helped me get a base line of fitness. I think we’re a lot fitter this year and hopefully that will show in the game.”

A sense of optimism surrounds the club going into the opening game, with a crowd heading towards 30,000 expected to roar United on at Elland Road.

And Cook believes that a calm and productive summer on and off the pitch can have a positive effect on the players this term.

“I think there’s a good structure throughout the club,” he said. “A lot of people have come in and things have settled down.

“We can really concentrate on our football for the season and hopefully that can benefit us and we can win some games.”

Asked about the new coaching staff, the midfielder said: “I’ve got on really well with them and they’ve helped me out a lot, one-to-one talking to ask how I am, what I need to improve on and how I’m going to do that.

“It’s the same with the other lads. They talk to players to help them improve on their weaknesses.

“As a team, everybody is really excited. They’ve brought in really good coaching staff and good training sessions.”

On the new head coach, Rosler, Cook added: “He’s a really good gaffer and I think he’s got the right way of thinking towards football and how to win football matches.

“When we know how we want to play, we can do that in training to make sure we get it right in a game.

“We can really practice our style of play and how we can improve ourselves to fit in that style of play during the games.”

Cook, who claimed United’s Young Player of the Year award last term, knows that expectations of him are high for the new campaign and the 18-year-old has outlined where he is looking to improve his game.

“There’s a bit more pressure but I think I need to let that go and just try my best,” he said.

“Hopefully it can be as good as last season for me.

“I think I had a bit of leeway last season because it was my first season and I was young. If I made a couple of mistakes, maybe I’d get away with it.

“This year I don’t see that at all. I’ve got to really be on my A game every week.

“I want to take my time a bit more on the ball this season – not running with it at 100 miles per hour – and I want to score a few goals, that’s my aim.

“I think my role this season is a bit more dynamic and a bit more attacking. I’ll play anywhere on the pitch.”