Catch up on the latest Leeds United morning headlines ahead of the lunchtime Championship clash against Southampton
Southampton boss Russell Martin says he didn’t consider a move for Joel Piroe before his Leeds United transfer. The Saint were linked with a move for the frontman when he was still at Swansea, with Daniel Farke and Co sealing the move before the transfer deadline.
He has looked an excellent signing for Leeds so far, but ahead of today’s clash at St Mary’s, Martin explained that Piroe – who he had worked with at Sweanse – had never been an option.
“He’s an outstanding player,” he said. “He was never a player that was an option for us because of the options that we have up front. Would I have wanted him? Of course, I enjoyed working with him. He’s a great character and a really top finisher. He was someone who bought into everything we wanted to do.
“We had a tough start to life me and Joel. When we made it really clear to him what we expected of him, he was amazing. He’s been one of the best strikers and the best scorers in the Championship, it’s no surprise that he has started the way that he has.
We have people on the pitch that know him very well and they know his game. That will hopefully help us. Would he have added to this group and helped us at some point? Yes. Was it ever an option? No, because we have brilliant options here that we are really happy with and we ended up signing one (Ross Stewart) who will contribute hugely when he is fit.”
The Leeds United squad has been announced for the Southampton match
Daniel Farke includes Patrick Bamford in his traveling squad to face Southampton in today’s Championship opener. The Leeds United number nine was injured shortly before the start of the new season with a hamstring problem and is close to returning to the team after returning to training earlier this month.
Leeds head to St Mary’s looking to continue their impressive recent run of form which has seen them reach the play-offs and go six games unbeaten without conceding a goal in their last four matches. Bamford offers another attacking option for Farke, who spoke about the former England striker in his pre-match press conference.
A Southampton insider’s view on Martin’s pressure against Leeds
Leeds United aim to extend their Championship unbeaten run to seven games this afternoon when they take on Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium. Daniel Farke’s side have the top two and will be looking to heap more misery on the Saints, who have lost their last four in the league.
Ahead of the race, we caught up with Hampshire Live’s Southampton reporter Mark Wyatt to talk about All Saints.
