Leeds United news as ex-Whites star details why club must take advantage of soft early schedule

Here are this evening’s latest Leeds United headlines on Thursday, June 22.

Michael Bridges’ fixture delight

This morning’s fixture release marked one of the key dates of the summer calendar, with Leeds United being handed an opening weekend clash against Cardiff City, in what looks – on paper at least – like a favourable start to the season.

Former Whites striker Michael Bridges was one of those who was eagerly awaiting the schedule release and was with happy with what he saw.

“It’s not where Leeds united and their fans want to be but the reality is, it’s happened,” he told Sky Sports News. “Everybody was so eagerly awaiting the fixtures this morning and I was glued to it waiting for the announcement to come and I’ve got to say I’m pleasantly surprised and I’m really really happy to be honest with you because with the first games Cardiff and Birmingham City you see two teams that were in the bottom half of the Championship last season.

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“There are really tough tests against West Bromwich Albion and a manager that’s been there before in Carlos Corberan and has potentially had talks with Leeds United over the fancy and then two teams in Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday that got promoted last season.

“So I think that’s a really good start for Leeds United because it’s about getting points on the board early in the Championship because come the end of the season and Christmas time, that’s when the games come thick and fast. So I was really, really happy when I did see the fixtures list come out the season.”

Leeds United’s ‘impossible’ prediction as 49ers told how to win over fans

The current state of flux at Leeds United makes it ‘impossible’ to try and second guess the start of their season despite the release of the Championship fixture list, according to former Whites midfielder David Prutton.

The Whites, who are without a manager and awaiting EFL confirmation of the 49ers Enterprises takeover as they look to retool their squad following relegation, were handed what looks to be – on paper at least – a relatively kind start to the season. It all kicks off with a home match against Cardiff City, which is followed by clashes against Birmingham City (A), West Bromwich Albion (H), Ipswich Town (A), Sheffield Wednesday (H) and Millwall (A).

An easier start will be a boon to whoever Leeds appoint as their new boss, with Patrick Vieira and Daniel Farke the bookies’ favourite, but Prutton insists that there are too many questions to be answered before anyone can confidently predict how United will start the season.

Read what he has to say here.

Leeds United Championship fixtures 2023-24 as Whites start at home to Cardiff

Leeds United will start the 2023/24 Championship season with a home game against Cardiff City. The clash is scheduled to take place on Sunday August 6 and it has been selected to be shown live on TV. As such, it will kick-off at 2.30pm with fans hoping to see Leeds hit the ground running on their return to the Championship.

Leeds, who are currently without a head coach, have a little over six weeks to prepare for the season opener, but the club have made no secret of their desire to push for promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking. They’ll be keen to put themselves in a position to get points on the board early doors and their start looks relatively kind, with a trip to Birmingham City following the opening game.

See the fixtures in full here.