Marcelo Bielsa is homeward bound after last night, a final pre-season game awaits at Elland Road, Las Palmas the opponents. As always Guiseley provided a physical and testing battle on a tight pitch at Nethermoor, the annual fixture saw a full house and a 3-4 Leeds win for the second time in three years. Bielsa picked a young side. Player Ratings Jamal Blackman – 6 – To say how exposed Blackman was light night he did well. The defence in front of him was as makeshift as it comes and weren’t really in control until Ronaldo Vieira dropped back to play alongside Laurens De Bock with 20 minutes to go. Brilliant from crosses, collected the lot. Jamie Shackleton – 6 – The young winger once again played at full-back, an unfamiliar position but one he did play well in again. Struggled in the early stages and Guiseley bombarded Leeds with long balls but grew into the game. Another assist. Hugo Diaz – 4 – May seem harsh but the centre-back was out of his depth last night, not by the standard but the number nine for Guiseley physically imposed himself of Diaz, bullying him massively. He was at fault for the first two goals. Laurens De Bock – 6 – Didn’t really get involved with the Guiseley number nine and it was Diaz who paid the price but on the ball De Bock was tidy, finding feet and always looking for a pass. Played out of position but did ok, seems to be involved in Bielsa’s squad plans. Tom Pearce – 6 – Linked up so well with Jack Clarke down the left hand side but his crossing was just off as he broke into the final third. A few good crosses but you can’t help think with a more experienced striker to hit he could have picked out better options. Ronaldo Vieira – 6 – Linked the play well, especially allowing Klich to run forward time after time, finding little passes into the Polish midfielder to release him. Got stuck in and was the one who took control of the number nine after the break. Mateusz Klich – 8 – T72MOM – The best player on the park last night. The defence struggled and the scoreline tells you the game was close but it wasn’t really. Leeds controlled much of it and Klich drove the side forward, passing was brilliant, a goal and an assist and just in general a classy performance. He and Kalvin Phillips will go head to head for the deep role this season, Klich is well in with a shout. Lewis Baker – 7 – The attacking players were good last night and Baker was the player everything went through in the final third. At times the keep-ball in the Guiseley half was great to watch, Baker could have had a hat-trick if it wasn’t for some good saves and some slightly off finishing. Looks a talent. Jack – Clarke – 7 – Clarke was one of the best players on the park last night, only behind the oozing ability of Klich. His ability to weave past players became a theme of the game and he was involved in everything good Leeds did. The youngster to watch under Marcelo Bielsa. Tyler Roberts – 6 – Impressed before going off injured in the first half. Seemed to be just precaution but he had made an impact already, looked sharp and an exciting player. Ryan Edmondson – 7 – Played well and looks even bigger this pre-season. Bagged twice, the first of which he took very well and got a huge cheer as he was subbed. Such a talented youngster and one with a huge future ahead of him. Subs Jordan Stevens – 6 – Stevens played down the right last night and showed some good touches. Worked hard and helped Leeds gain control of the game with quick, interchanging passing, coming in from the right. Oriol Rey – N/A Sam Dalby – N/A<doc-sep>The video will auto-play soon 8 Cancel Get the latest Leeds United news delivered straight to your inbox each day - sign up for free email updates Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Jamal Blackman and Tyler Roberts make their full debuts for Leeds United at Guiseley tonight as Marcelo Bielsa names a similar squad to that at Oxford United. Roberts makes the step up to the starting line-up after two cameos from the bench at Southend United and Oxford, while Blackman is promoted from the bench at Kassam Stadium. Roberts will be keen to see out his first 90 minutes in nearly six months and build upon the excellent goal he scored in Oxfordshire on Tuesday. Elsewhere, Laurens De Bock and Ryan Edmondson come in to the starting line-up in place of Oriol Rey and Sam Dalby. It means Bielsa will have given a week’s rest to the majority of his stronger XI by the time the Las Palmas friendly rolls around this weekend. Whites: Jamal Blackman, Laurens De Bock, Hugo Diaz, Ronaldo Vieira, Tom Pearce, Lewis Baker, Mateusz Klich, Jack Clarke, Jamie Shackleton, Tyler Roberts, Ryan Edmondson. Substitutes: Kamil Miazek, Yosuke Ideguchi, Sam Dalby, Oriol Rey, Jordan Stevens.<doc-sep>
Leeds United’s last friendly fixture against Oxford United was a cliched ‘game of two halves’, something of a Jekyll and Hyde performance. There are just two games left of Leeds United’s pre-season for Marcelo Bielsa to hone and fine tune the side that he wants to be the core of the 2018/19 Sky Bet Championship campaign. Sunday’s game against Las Palmas at Elland Road is likely to see the Argentinian coaching legend send out his strongest side, his ‘Championship side’ so-to-speak. Tonight’s game against local neighbours Guiseley is a fixture where the Whites can look to make amends for a first-half horror show at the Kassam where a lacklustre Leeds turned around 3-0 down. Heading in to the game, Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Lee Sobot gives the following insights: Bit of team news for tonight, Bielsa expected to name a similar side to the one which faced Oxford, set to save his strongest side for Sunday’s friendly against Las Palmas. But Blackman, Baker, Vieira and Klich could all feature. #lufc — Lee Sobot (@LeeSobotYEP) July 26, 2018 Lee Sobot’s tweet (above) gives an indication that the Whites are likely to travel the short distance to Nethermoor with a mix of youngsters and fringe players, with the odd first-team player thrown in to the mix for match practice. The four names that Sobot mentions in Blackman, Baker, Vieira and Klich will all be in or about the first team set-up next season. The most surprising of that quartet is Polish midfielder Mateusz Klich. Forgotten under Thomas Christiansen and sent out on loan, he enjoyed something of an ‘Indian summer’ at FC Utrecht. This form has continued and he looks to be forcing the hand of Bielsa with growingly accomplished displays in pre-season games thus far.