Leeds United v Cardiff City team news: New injury for key man and international not ready
Experienced goalkeeper Ryan Allsop started 43 of Cardiff’s 46 league games last season but new Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut has revealed that Allsop suffered an injury in the club’s final pre-season friendly against Wycombe Wanderers and will likely miss Sunday’s clash in West Yorkshire.
Jak Alnwick, who has played just seven times for Cardiff, is instead heading for a start in goal for a team who will still be without Romaine Sawyers despite his return to training this week after extended international duty with Saint Kitts and Nevis and a minor knee injury.
Speaking at Thursday’s pre-match press conference as quoted by cardiffcityfc.co.uk, Bulut said: “Ryan Allsop got a small injury in our last friendly match, so it’s looking like he will not be with us this weekend. Jak Alnwick will be good in goal with us and will handle it well.”
Of Sawyers, Bulut added: “He started with us this week but he’s not on the level where we can use him. Small problems with his knee. He has recovered from that but he’s in training with us. We have to see the following days and weeks.”
Bult also provided updates on Mark McGuinness, Joe Ralls, Yakou Meite and Rubin Colwill who have all either been missing or had injury issues lately.
“Yakou Meite and Macca (McGuinness), they are also in training,” said the Cardiff boss. “Also Joe Ralls, I think and hope they will also be with us in Leeds. He (Colwill) is also in training and fully with us.”
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On the opening weekend, Leeds United are set to take on Cardiff City in what should be an interesting matchup at Elland Road.
Leeds, of course, are coming off the back of relegation from the Premier League.
But, Cardiff City themselves did not have a strong campaign last season either, finishing 2022/23 in 20th place in the Championship, and avoiding the drop to League One narrowly in terms of league position.
The Bluebirds are under new management this time around, though, and have made some interesting signings – none more so than bringing Welsh hero Aaron Ramsey back to the club.
It will certainly be interesting to see how the Bluebirds line up, as it will be to see the same for Leeds United.
After the club’s pre-season win over Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday, given it was the last friendly before the Cardiff clash, Daniel Farke was asked if the line up used for that match would be his starting line up for the game against Cardiff, too.
Farke hinted that whilst there would of course remain some stability, there would likely be changes due to the nature of Leeds’ pre-season.
“We didn’t have enough time and we use this also to see a little bit more.
“I don’t think that will be 11 new players next Sunday on the pitch, definitely a few will be involved.
“It was not only a big show of what we’ll do on Sunday. So for that we needed this test and also try to share also the time, Charlie Cresswell got 90 minutes today and the same with other players so yes, we will see.
“I think overall we are, for our circumstances, for this occasion, well prepared.”
When is Leeds’ first Championship match?
The Championship campaign gets underway on Friday night (4th August) when Sheffield Wednesday host Southampton FC at Hillsborough under the lights.
Leeds’ first match is not until Sunday 6th August, though, when they take on Cardiff City at Elland Road.
What time does Leeds United v Cardiff City kick-off?
With the match set to take place on Sunday 6th August, kick-off between Leeds United and Cardiff City is currently set for 2:30PM in the United Kingdom.
Is Leeds United v Cardiff City live on TV?
For those unable to attend Elland Road for whatever reason, or for those just wanting to watch the match from home, there is good news.
Indeed, Sky Sports will be showing the match live on Sunday afternoon as part of their EFL opening weekend coverage.
The programme for the match begins at 2:15PM on both Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football, with 15 minutes of build up prior to kick-off.
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