Kyle Newbould on Leeds United 1-0 Sunderland: three key conclusions from New Jersey | OneFootball

Leeds United secured their first pre-season win, beating Sunderland 1-0 in New Jersey as Lukas Nmecha struck early from range. Sunderland fashioned openings but were wasteful and Leeds saw it out for a clean sheet.

Twenty-one Leeds players featured, with only goalkeeper Alex Cairns completing 90 minutes. According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, Joe Rodon captained the side and, with Pascal Struijk now at Brighton, that appeared to hint at the vacant deputy role to club captain Ethan Ampadu.

Ampadu started on the bench and Daniel Farke otherwise went strong, with Callum Mills the only academy player in the XI. With pre-season caveats in mind, new £34million centre-back Tarik Muharemovic delivered a highly encouraging debut, the 23-year-old looking a level above at times. He read danger to cut out an Enzo Le Fee pass, relished contact with a firm challenge on Brian Brobbey, and sprayed composed, varied passes, including a laser-like ball into Jayden Bogle's run.

Equally, Leeds looked blunt in attack on the night. Nmecha's goal stemmed from Ao Tanaka dispossessing Le Fee and a ricochet rather than sustained build-up. Without Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor, and with Wilson still settling, Daniel James squandered promising moments and Joel Piroe and Willy Gnonto made little impact.

Defensively they appear strong, particularly if they get a £40m deal for James Trafford over the line. Beyond the likely front three of Wilson, Okafor and Calvert-Lewin, options look light, though the transfer window remains open for a full month.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk