Leeds United Under-21s’ season gets underway on Tuesday night with a trip to Lincolnshire to face Boston United in the National League Cup.

The Whites were crowned champions of the tournament last campaign and boss Scott Gardner believes his side are in a great place ahead of their return to action.

“We have had a good break and we are ready to get back into the competitive games,” the coach explained.

“We have got a busy schedule coming up and Tuesday will be really challenging game and a game with real meaning for us. It is the first one back so we are excited for it.

“There has been a few new players joining the group from the Under-18s and a couple of new bodies coming in from outside the club.

“We have had a mixed pre-season in terms of the opposition, playing some other U21 sides, international teams and we have played some senior games.

“Overall, I am really pleased. I think we are in a good position. It is up to the lads now to step onto the pitch on Tuesday and be ready to go.”

The competition is bound to bring back lots of positive memories for the reigning champions but Gardner is already concentrating on the challenge of retaining the crown.

“What happened last season was fantastic but we have moved on. It is more the element, again, of playing senior opposition and testing our players against that level.

“It is where we need to be but we will have a little bit more of a target on our backs. Like I say, we are not too focused on the past. We are looking very much forward to the future.

“Boston will be a different test than when we played them last year with a different manager and they finished the season really strongly. It will be a real good gauge of where we are at for the first game. We are excited for it.”