Myanmar Squad; Leeds’ first summer statement?

Speaking after the game Paul Heckingbottom stated that the trip to Myanmar was not for footballing reasons.

The Head Coach reiterated that this trip would be to asses his players and find a balance between his squad and the youth.

Heckingbottom believed after QPR that taking the youth players along will give the club some structure between the youth candidates and the first team squad, something that owner Radrizzani has reiterated as Leeds look to shrink their squad for the upcoming season.

The 22 man squad is as follows;

Goalkeepers: Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Andy Lonergan

Full Backs: Luke Ayling, Bryce Hosannah, Tyler Denton, Tom Pearce

Centre Backs: Oriol Rey, Hugo Diaz, Paudie O’Connor, Pascal Struijk

Midfielders: Jason Shackleton, Calum Nicell, Madger Gomes, Kalvin Phillips, Ronaldo Vieira, Alex Machuca, Samu Saiz,

Attackers: Caleb Ekuban, Jay Roy Grot, Jack Clarke, Sam Dalby, Ryan Edmundson

Leeds have decided not to take fourteen players who have featured for the first team this season. Noticeable admissions from the squad include Roofe, Alioski, Jansson, Hernandez, Cooper, Forshaw, Shaughnessy (injured) and De Bock (possible injury).

However, the likes of Stuart Dallas, Felix Wiedwald, Eunan O’Kane, Hadi Sacko, Pawel Cibicki and Vurnon Anita could be set to miss out due to being informed the club may be willing to move them on in the summer.

Heckingbottom has already stated that he has informed several players that they will not be part of the clubs plans next season and it’s easily believed that some who make this list will be out of the door come summer.

Loanees Pennington and Lasogga have also missed out on the trip, but are both expected to return to their parent clubs over the coming weeks.

The squad shows the clubs willing ness to test out youth prior to adding an abundance of signings in the summer and with the success of Pearce, BPF and O’Connor in the final month of the season, this could be a good move.

What are your thoughts on the squad? Is there any player you’re excited to see that’s in the squad? Or is there one that hasn’t been included? Have your say in the comments below.

By Ryan Ingham