Leeds United will open their Premier League campaign with a trip to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
The Whites surprised their detractors by securing Premier League survival with games to spare last season, finishing 14th in the final league table.
While staying in the Premier League will remain their biggest goal, Leeds are still keen to move to the next level in the upcoming campaign, and their recruitment has shown that ambition.
All three new signings – Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemovic and Harry Wilson – are expected to be in the starting eleven Daniel Farke is likely to field against Forest on Saturday.
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Premier League make key announcement for Forest vs Leeds United
The Premier League has announced the match officials who will be in charge of the first round of games next weekend in the top flight.
Rob Jones will take centre stage at the City Ground and be the referee for the Nottingham Forest vs Leeds fixture on Saturday.
He was famously in charge of Leeds’ 3-3 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last season, in what turned out to be a pulsating Premier League game.
Nick Greenhalgh and Alistair Nelson will serve as the assistant referees, while Gavin Ward will act as the fourth official and oversee proceedings on the touchline.
Experienced Premier League official Craig Pawson will take charge of VAR for the game, with Ian Hussin assisting him in the video operation.
Both teams will hope that the players become the headline after the game, regardless of the result, rather than the referee for his in-game decisions.
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Can Leeds qualify for Europe this season?
European football should not be the expectation for Leeds United next season. Their first job is to establish themselves in the Premier League and make sure they are nowhere near another relegation battle.
That said, there is nothing wrong with dreaming big. Leeds have shown plenty of ambition in the transfer market this summer and are expected to strengthen further before the window closes.
With so many clubs around them spending heavily, even breaking into the top half will be a difficult task. But Leeds showed plenty of resilience and character last season and have added more quality to their squad this summer.
If a few of the established sides underperform and an opportunity opens up, Leeds could find themselves in the mix. A top-eight finish could potentially bring European football, and the Whites are one of the teams who could take advantage if the door opens.
