Jesse Marsch has spoken with the media ahead of his side returning to action at to Manchester City, on Wednesday evening (8pm).
The Whites get their Premier League campaign back underway at Elland Road after a long international break for the recent World Cup.
As always, the head coach began with a fitness update on his squad.
“We didn’t have a bunch of guys in the mix because of a few little injuries, then we had a sickness going around the team,” Marsch explained, beginning his press conference.
“We’re hopeful that everyone can be healthy and be back in training this week, with exception to Stuart Dallas, who had another surgery yesterday to clean some things up. They felt that was successful.
“Luis Sinisterra is making good progress and we feel he is on track. We have to be cautious with his injury but we’re hopeful in a couple of weeks he can be back in training.
“We’re hopeful everyone else is back this week, we’ll wait and see but hopefully we can be healthy and fit for the start of the season.”
Current champions Manchester City are the opponents and nobody is under any illusion as to the challenge they will pose, come kick-off under the lights.
The head coach feels his side have had a good break together over this period, in preparation for the match.
“I feel like we’ve made progress and the togetherness of the group is always strong,” Marsch stated.
“Right now it’s just looking at Man City. They have such a great squad and for me, the best manager in the world.
“It’s a very difficult playing style to prepare for and then when you introduce the playing quality they have on the pitch, it becomes a monumental task.
“The good thing about our team now is that we’re not afraid of the biggest opponents, and we’ve proven that not only can we play them on the day, but we can find ways to get points.
“So, we’ll use that motivation but also have to have a clear match plan, discipline and execution on the day to give ourselves a chance. We know that.”