It is hard to believe that in less than a month the new Championship season kicks off with optimism high on the Elland Road terraces despite transfer concern.

Marcelo Biesla’s opponent has been a positive step for a club who have spent the last 12 months struggling for leadership ever since Garry Monk opted to leave the Whites this time last year.

Despite the club still making the odd gaffe, Trip to war-torn Burma anyone? Leeds are ramping up their preseason exploits with five games in the space of 12 days.

However, unfortunately for Whites fans, only one of those five will be at Elland Road.

First up is a trip to Gloucestershire to play eco-friendly Forest Green Rovers on July 17^th before heading back to Yorkshire to play York City two days later.

The Whites will be heading back down south to the Kassam to play Oxford United on 24^th July before getting back to grips with the M1 again as they head to local team Guiseley FC on the 26^th.

Then, it is time for the big one and our annual welcome of an overseas team.

This time Spanish side Las Palmas will be plying their trade at Elland Road in a game the whites will be tested.

After that, Biesla and co will be locked down on the training pitch ready for the visit of Stoke City on the 5^th August when we will get the first chance to see the new look Leeds against some quality opposition.

I say new look, but at the minute despite being linked with a number of tantalising names, so far, the Whites have come up short with Lewis Baker currently the biggest name to land at Thorp Arch.

Leeds have been linked with the likes of Abel Hernandez and Matej Vydra but rumours persist that Leeds have cooled their interest in Vydra and Hernandez could be set to switch to CSKA Moscow instead.

With just a month to go, there is plenty of work to do as preseason intensifies.