Terms have been reached that will send Tomi Ameobi, the nineteen year-old product of the academy, to the Doncaster Rovers of the Championship League. Tomi is a superb product who will benefit Sean O’Driscoll’s squad and we wish him the best of fortune in his future.

Gary McAllister is definitely pulling out all stops and calling-in a few markers because somehow tomorrows friendly against Shelbourne in Ireland will see the debut of twenty-four old Striker Luciano Becchio.

Luciano has been signed to a trial basis and hails from Argentina where he started in the renowned Boca Juniors youth program and then stints with Barcelona and Mallorca. He spent the last campaign at Mérida UD of Mérida, Spain where he drove twenty eight goals into the net. It was also revealed that Luciano will be returning to Leeds with the club for their friendly against Barnet on Saturday. While there will naturally be a period of adjustment, his style of play and attacking ability would be an extraordinary asset to the club. Hopefully the young Striker who started in La Bombonera will find himself as part of Elland Road this season.

Rumour has it that Leeds have made a £100,000 bid on Hull City’s thirty-nine year-old, tough as nails Striker Dean Windass. It would be an ironic twist of fate to see the long-time fixture on the sport, whose goal sent Hull City to the Premier League and equally helped seal Leeds demotion fate to League One a few seasons ago, end-up with Leeds.

This would be a superb signing for the squad. He is a sturdy leader, obviously experienced and his fiery demeanor would suit the pressure-packed season the club is about to face.

I will update as details become available.

In the recent Galway match-up we saw a squad that certainly could be our opening lineup as the campaign kicks off against Scunthorpe United. The changes with the squad for Bray were substantial, with David Lucas getting a rare start at ‘keeper and a back four with Slovakian international Ľubomír Michalík, Rui Marques and the two very promising twenty year-olds Ben Parker and Scott Gardner. The midfield boasted David Prutton, Jonathan Douglas, Bradley Johnson and Peter Sweeney with the on-trial Canadian Marcus Haber and Andy Robinson at Striker.

Bray got out to a fast start, taking a 2-0 lead at the half best described by Gary McAllister as “disappointing” he though Leeds controlled much of the play. While David Prutton, Peter Sweeney and Andy Robinson showed creativity and flourish, they were unable to capitalize on good scoring opportunities yet much of this has to do with players unfamiliar with each other on the pitch. The second-half was completely different with Rui Marques (55) scoring off a set-piece, the Canadian Marcus Haber (68) bringing the match level and Jonny Howson coming off the bench to score the winning goal at the eighty-third minute.

Of particular note with this lineup, both Ľubomír Michalík and Peter Sweeney our hot commodities on the radar maps of many Championship squads so don’t be surprised with them appearing on the transfer wire. Depth will need to be built in these areas to anticipate this.

Leeds Lineup:
United: Lucas, Gardner, Marques (Bayly 64), Michalik, Parker, Prutton, Douglas, Johnson, Sweeney, Haber (Showunmi 70), Robinson (Howson 75). Subs: Ankergren, Richardson, Sheehan, Huntington, Telfer.

Very relieved to hear he’s not going anywhere, well except the Championship League : )

I have to say, I’ve been hopeful we’d see a closer look to the full team and I think tonight’s effort was more like it. Ignoring the 2 - nil scoreline over Galway United, I was expecting Gary McAllister to continue the approach of fielding two separate units each half and make this more of the friendliest of friendlies. However I was surprised and quite pleased to be honest, to see him go with a squad we could see kick-off the campaign.

To no surprise League One player of the year, Jermaine Beckford brace (25, 46) led our boys but the real storyline and maybe I’m showing my colours a bit too clear, was the forever young Scot Paul Telfer being handed the start and from all accounts, showing that he’s a special breed. The cagey defender who will turn thirty-seven this October played a full seventy-four minutes and was called upon numerous times and each time, turned Galway attackers away. Clearly his retirement is premature and hopefully this trial will turn into something more permanent. His watchful eyes and keen leadership are deeply needed if we are to push the title race and promotion.

Of other particular note was the U21 Canadian international Marcus Haber, who is on trial with the club, coming on for Becks at the sixty-second minute. He showed himself well for the club with competent touches and vision, even in the latter stages of the match.

A very solid performance in the long-road of the season!

Leeds linup: GK Casper Ankergren (Alan Martin 74), Frazer Richardson (Scott Gardner 74), DF Paul Telfer (Ľubomír Michalík 74), DF Paul Huntington, DF Alan Sheehan (DF Ben Parker 74), Jonny Howson (Rob Bayly 62), Andy Hughes (Douglas 62), Jonathan Douglas (Peter Sweeney 62), FW Jermaine Beckford (Marcus Haber 62), FW Enoch Showunmi, MF Andy Robinson (MF David Prutton 62). Subs: DF Rui Marques

On the practice front, look for Paul Telfer to be sticking around. He’s looking remarkably fit and an unbelievable find for the squad.

And yes…that photo is a “few” years old.

What do you think - time to make the move for Dougie?

Yes, Paul Telfer. I should first like to say I was searching to find a nice picture dating back to say…oh Luton Town circa 1989. That aside the big news is that the trusted Scot Defender has joined Leeds in its Ireland tour and I suspect Gary McAllister still believes there is some big-time talent left in the thirty-six year-old Defender. He came out of retirement last year to join Bournemouth before an injury cut his season mid-campaign. If healthy and fit, he would be a tremendously steadying influence for our promotion run.

Gary McAllister named the following travel squad:
GK Casper Ankergren,
GK David Lucas
GK Alan Martin
DF Frazer Richardson
DF Scott Gardner
DF Ľubomír Michalík
DF Paul Huntington, DF Rui Marques
DF Alan Sheehan
DF Ben Parker
MF David Prutton
MF Andy Hughes
MF Jonathan Douglas
MF Jonny Howson
MF Bradley Johnson
MF Peter Sweeney
MF Andy Robinson
MF Rob Bayly
FW Jermaine Beckford
FW Enoch Showunmi

As a very nice touch, Marcus Haber who has just joined the squad on a trial basis from Vancouver Canada will be debuting. The tall lanky Striker, an U-23 Canadian team member, presently plays for FC Groningen Reserves and with Gary McAllister stating that he is in the hunt for another striker he may have found a diamond in the rough.