Thirteen Leeds United senior players are away on international duty during an extended break that features four fixtures instead of the usual two. Only nine senior squad members remain at the club's Thorp Arch base, with the team not in action again until a Premier League trip to Arsenal on October 10.
Jean-Matteo Bahoya's call-up to the France under-21 squad for European Championship qualifiers is a key feature. The forward has managed just 81 minutes of club football since the start of April, with two of those coming in Leeds's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace last Sunday. "Will be handed much-needed minutes after long periods without game time at Elland Road," said Jaka Bijol, who is in a similar position with Slovenia.
Ilia Gruev, selected for Bulgaria, echoed the sentiment about gaining key match sharpness. Leeds currently sit fifth in the Premier League table with nine points from five games, and their top scorer Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has three goals this season, is part of the England squad for Nations League matches against Spain and Czechia.
The schedule is packed across various competitions. Ao Tanaka will feature in three friendlies for Japan, while Anton Stach is with Germany for their Nations League double-header and will return to Leeds after the second match against Greece on Sunday. Ethan Ampadu, Daniel James, and Jayden Lienou are all involved with Wales.
Fans can track the club's upcoming fixtures and see how the squad is shaping up in our squad section. The international action concludes on October 3, when Bahoya and France U21s face Luxembourg, giving players just over a week to prepare for the league's resumption.
More detail at Yahoo
