Leeds set for Croke Park TV clash with Man United as Piroe faces crunch point | OneFootball

Leeds United head to Dublin for a televised Croke Park meeting with Manchester United on Wednesday, with more than 80,000 expected and Leeds on a three-match pre-season winning run.

According to Leeds Live, this rematch comes a year after their Stockholm friendly, kicks off at 7.30pm and will be the first association football match at Croke Park since 2009, with ITV screening it live.

Karl Darlow is expected to be in the Man United squad for the first time since crossing the divide, and he could feature to contrasting receptions. James Trafford will be with Leeds on matchday for the first time since his £40million club-record arrival, so an unofficial debut is possible.

Sean Longstaff’s strong pre-season suggests it is his midfield spot to lose after starting against RB Leipzig ahead of Anton Stach and Ao Tanaka. Stach has yet to reach full speed after last season’s ankle injury, while Tanaka looked rugged but improved. Another good game could cement Longstaff’s place for Nottingham Forest away on the opening day.

Joel Piroe has not played in the last two matches, including Saturday’s two-hour home friendly. Daniel Farke has put that down to selection and praised his professionalism, yet the omissions are telling. If he sits out again, the striker reaches a crunch point, three games without minutes would leave him undercooked and his wish to stay looks ominous.

Source: Leeds Live

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”