Leeds United players join all four home nations in international matches for first time in club’s history

This break feels really long, particularly after the form we were in beforehand and it would be a shame to lose that momentum.

On the plus side, for the first time in the club’s history, we had a starter in all four home nations teams last week - Liam Cooper, Kalvin Phillips, Tyler Roberts and Stuart Dallas.

Kalvin is also the first Leeds United player to feature in an England qualifying international at Wembley since David Batty in 1999. On the minus side, we have at least two injuries to contend with, groin strains for both Liam Cooper and Diego Llorente.

However, it does show how far we’ve come as a club, with so many of our players being regularly involved in internationals. That would have been fanciful a few years ago!

Off the field, a worrying development in the domestic game was the news that the TV broadcasters are introducing a pay per view (PPV) model for those Premier League games not already selected for broadcast during October.

The price alone, £14.95 per game at the time of writing, seems cynical in the current climate. The fact that Leeds United season ticket holders do not get to see these games for free also seems unfair when they have already paid up-front to the club.

Every Premier League club, except Leicester City, voted in favour of this short-term solution.

We raised our frustrations directly with the club, particularly to find out what other options were proposed, such as the ability for clubs to use their own TV channel to broadcast these games.

The club advised us that the PPV model was the only realistic option on the table that would ensure all games would be live broadcasted. It was for this reason that they voted in favour of it.

As a trust and as football fans, we expect better. We want other options to be explored further and we also expect it to be clear where this PPV money will go.

Secondly, there was the ‘Project Bigger Picture’ proposal by Manchester United and Liverpool. The FA, the Premier League Executive, the government and major fans’ groups immediately recognised this for what it was – a power grab by the so-called ‘big six’ clubs.

Whilst that proposal was swiftly rejected, the Premier League have used it as an opportunity to begin a “strategic plan for the future structures and financing of English football”.

An immediate benefit to this was financial assistance to the lower leagues. It is also pleasing to note that this planning includes a commitment to consulting with football fans.

The trust intends to play its full part in that process on behalf of its members and the wider fanbase.

Adding your own voice to the trust’s work is easy. Simply visit our website at www.leedsunitedtrust.com and become a member for just £10 per year. As a member, you can also enrol your child for free as a Future Trust member!

Marching on together.