Kyle Newbould: Leeds United beat Sunderland 1-0 in New Jersey, three key takeaways | OneFootball

Leeds United claimed their first pre-season win at the second attempt, beating Sunderland 1-0 in New Jersey. Lukas Nmecha scored early from range and a disciplined defence saw out the clean sheet. Sunderland fashioned openings but were wasteful in the final third.

Daniel Farke used 21 players, changing the entire outfield, with goalkeeper Alex Cairns completing 90 minutes. yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk highlights three key takeaways from the night.

With Pascal Struijk joining Brighton earlier this summer, the vice-captaincy behind Ethan Ampadu is vacant. Ampadu started on the bench, and Joe Rodon led the team out at the Sports Illustrated Stadium.

Leeds named a strong XI, with Callum Mills the only academy player, and Rodon, entering a fourth season in West Yorkshire, wore the armband. Given his three years at the heart of a changing squad and his willingness to speak up, he feels the obvious deputy.

New signing Tarik Muharemovic, a £34 million centre-back, made an eye-catching debut and looked the best player on the pitch. The 23-year-old showed recovery pace to snuff out an Enzo Le Fee through ball, and crunched into Brian Brobbey when required. On the ball he was composed, mixing firm passes through the lines with raking diagonals, including a laser to the advancing Jayden Bogle.

The attack lacked flow. Nmecha’s goal owed to Ao Tanaka robbing Le Fee high up and a ricochet, not crafted build-up. With Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Noah Okafor absent and Wilson still bedding in, Leeds looked flat in the final third.

Nmecha was clumsy after scoring, Daniel James wasted promising openings, and Joel Piroe and Willy Gnonto had little influence. Defensively they appear solid, particularly if they get a £40m deal for James Trafford over the line, and there is still a month left of the window.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk