Leeds United 2-3 Wrexham takeaways: Harry Wilson threat, promising youngsters, shape shift, fitness concerns | OneFootball

Leeds United lost 3-2 to Championship side Wrexham in their first pre-season friendly in America. According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the run-out offered clear pointers on shape, selection and fitness.

Daniel Farke opened with a back three, Joe Rodon flanked by James Justin and Alfie Cresswell, and Leeds looked vulnerable.

After the break Ethan Ampadu dropped into a back four, which steadied things and hinted at 4-2-3-1. Joël Piroe hit an early penalty against the post, later levelled with a backheel, but Wrexham won it after Ao Tanaka lost the ball in midfield. Harry Wilson, introduced at half-time, went close with a late chip.

Sean Longstaff strengthened his case to start in central midfield alongside Ethan Ampadu and Anton Stach. He impressed even before scoring and, having begun last season as a regular, looks more than a bench option.

Seventeen-year-old Callum Mills fronted a large group of youngsters, starting behind Piroe and slipping the pass that should have seen Wilfried Gnonto put Leeds ahead before the interval. Full-back Jayden Lienou and centre-back Cresswell had a tough night yet emerged with credit, while further academy players got minutes.

Availability dominated the backdrop. Noah Okafor is on an extended break after the World Cup, with Brenden Aaronson, Gabi Gudmundsson and Tarik Muharemovic joining later. Dominic Calvert-Lewin has had a small setback and is training individually, Jaka Bijol has a knee knock, Sebastiaan Bornauw was not risked, and Ilia Gruev is out with a meniscus problem, leaving only Piroe and Lukas Nmecha as natural strikers.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk