PREVIEW: FOREST GREEN ROVERS V LEEDS UNITED
We look ahead to Tuesday’s clash.
Leeds United travel to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday (7:00pm) for the first of six pre-season games over the next two weeks. United’s trip to the New Lawn will mark head coach Marcelo Bielsa’s first game in charge of the club as he looks to get his side ready for the Sky Bet Championship opener against Stoke City on Sunday 5th August. The Whites will be backed by over 1,000 supporters, who will get to see Bielsa’s style of play and philosophy first hand and a large number of the squad will be looking to get valuable minutes under their belts.
Head coach
Forest Green Rovers: Mark Cooper
Leeds United: Marcelo Bielsa
2017/18 league position
Forest Green Rovers: 21st (Sky Bet League Two)
Leeds United: 13th (Sky Bet Championship)
2017/18 top scorer
Forest Green Rovers: Christian Doidge (25)
Leeds United: Kemar Roofe (14)
2018/19 transfer incomings
Forest Green Rovers: Tahvon Campbell (West Bromwich Albion), Joseph Mills (Perth Glory), James Montgomery (Gateshead) Isaac Pearce (Fulham), Liam Shephard (Peterborough United), Lewis Thomas (Swansea City), George Williams (Fulham), Carl Winchester (Cheltenham Town), Lloyd James (Exeter City)
Leeds United: Lewis Baker (Chelsea), Jamal Blackman (Chelsea)
Team news
Midfielder Lewis Baker who has arrived at the club on a season-long loan from Chelsea could be handed a debut for Leeds, but the game may come too soon for Jamal Blackman who arrived at the club on Monday. Forward Tyler Roberts could make a long awaited first appearance for Leeds, he joined the Whites in January from West Bromwich Albion, but injury prevented him from featuring during the 2017/18 campaign. Forest Green played out a 6-6 draw with Weston-super-Mare on Friday evening and are likely to field a similar side.
The key battle
Christian Doidge v Liam Cooper
Striker Doidge fired 25 goals for Forest Green Rovers in all competitions last season. He’s started this pre-season campaign brightly also, scoring a hat-trick against Weston-super-Mare. The man tasked with keeping him at bay will be Leeds centre-back Liam Cooper.
LUTV
Tuesday's fixture with Forest Green Rovers will be streamed live and free on LUTV. Build up will begin from 6:50pm and the game will be shown on the LUTV App and at www.leedsunited.com/forestgreen
