Here are your Leeds United morning headlines for Thursday, 25 June.
Hernandez ready to return to training
Leeds missed the creative influence of veteran attacking midfielder Pablo Hernandez at the weekend, as they dominated possession but created little against Cardiff.
However, the 35-year-old is ready for a return to action, according to Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth, who said he would “put money on him” being back for the game against Fulham.
Smyth claimed on the Inside Elland Road podcast that the intention at Leeds was for Hernandez to return to training on Thursday, giving him two days to prove his readiness ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Fulham will have to go all-out for the win if they hope to catch the top two, with a gap of seven points between the Cottagers and West Brom and Leeds.
Osama bin Laden cut-out removed from Elland Road seats
Twitter users received a shock on Wednesday as a photo emerged of the Elland Road stands filled with cardboard cut-outs of fans - and Osama bin Laden.
The club had invited supporters to send in their photos to represent a following of the team, as all games are currently behind closed doors.
But one user sent in a picture of the former al-Qaeda leader and it was duly printed and placed on the seats.
Football presenter Elliott Hackney displayed the image on Twitter, before the club clarified that the process was to first get them all out onto seats and then walk around, taking out the offensive ones.
Additional checks will be put in place to ensure no repeat in future.
Lure of Bielsa key to signing Poveda
Young winger Ian Poveda joined Leeds in January, but the England Under-20 international had offers from overseas.
Torino and Parma were both keen to take him to Serie A and he flew to Italy to see the Turin club in action.
Speaking on a video conference call this week, though, he reveals Leeds had a number of appealing attributes that meant he was happy to head to the Championship.
"The decisive factor wasn't just one thing," he said via a video conference call. "I would say it's multiple things.
“My coach Marcelo Bielsa being one of them, he was an important factor. The fans as well, the homelinesses, the teammates, that kind of mind my decision to come here and I don't regret it at all.”
Poveda made his debut at the weekend and will hope for further game time as the season goes on.
