With the Premier League season over and top-flight football secured for one more year, Leeds United fans will now look to keep tabs on the World Cup that starts later this week.
Four Leeds players, Brenden Aaronson, Noah Okafor, Gabriel Gudmundsson and Ao Tanaka, will be in action for their respective countries during the tournament.
Leeds supporters will also keep an eye out for England’s performance as they look to end their 60-year wait and lift the title in New Jersey next month.
However, England’s 1-0 win over New Zealand on Saturday provided a glimpse of things to come, and Leeds fans may see a familiar face start in the World Cup opener against Croatia later this month.
Leeds United reject Djed Spence could start against Croatia
Djed Spence was a surprise inclusion in the England World Cup squad after a season for Tottenham, where they were almost relegated from the Premier League.
The full-back has Thomas Tuchel’s support, and he started in England’s 1-0 win over New Zealand in the World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.
Spence looked good in a patchy England performance and was one of the better players on the pitch for the Three Lions this weekend.
He set up the winner for Harry Kane towards the end of the first half, and his pace down the wings was one of the highlights of the performance.
Spence’s performance has led to suggestions that he could make a shock start for England when they play their opening game in the World Cup against Croatia.
It’s a long way from playing in a Spurs team that struggled all season, but he is now on the verge of starting a game in the World Cup for England.
Leeds pair deserved a chance ahead of him
Djed Spence was part of a Tottenham side that endured a difficult Premier League campaign and came perilously close to the relegation battle, while his own performances, although solid at times, were hardly outstanding.
The full-back only recently broke into the England setup and has just four senior international caps to his name.
If Thomas Tuchel was looking for a more attack-minded option at full-back, there is a strong argument that either Jayden Bogle or James Justin could have been considered this summer.
Bogle has been among the Premier League’s most effective attacking full-backs this season and had a compelling case for an England call-up, while Justin’s ability to operate in multiple positions would have offered the Three Lions an extra layer of tactical flexibility.
