MARSCH FACES INJURY CRISIS

LEEDS will be without seven first-team players for tomorrow’s Premier League opener against Wolves but have been boosted by the return of Patrick Bamford to full fitness. Absentees include captain Liam Cooper, Dan James, Luke Ayling, Junior Firpo, Adam Forshaw, Stuart Dallas and new arrival Luis Sinisterra. Having narrowly avoided the drop on the final day of last season, Leeds have spent £93.2million this summer to try to offset the exits of star men Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips.

‘We’ve still got a good group,’ said head coach Jesse Marsch. One player who is fit is striker Bamford, who scored twice against Cagliari on Sunday in his first 90 minutes since his injuryplagued season ended with a foot issue in March. ‘It’s been a huge week for him,’ Marsch said. ‘He looks great. He looks fit, he looks strong, sharp.’