Angus Kinnear on completing contract renewals, the Whites' 'shrewdest piece of 2019 business' and Mateusz Klich proving Leeds United wrong

The Whites managing director addressed the contract extension handed to the veteran attacker in his programme notes for today's game against Middlesbrough.

Kinnear said the new deals handed out to Matesuz Klich, Leif Davis and Hernandez had 'completed' the club's planned contract extensions with players who have the potential to compete in the Premier League.

"The international break gave us the opportunity to complete our programme of contract renewals," he said.

"Securing players who are proven to be able to compete at the top end of the Championship and we know have Premier League potential is key to our longer term strategy, so the additions of Pablo Hernandez and Mateusz Klich to Luke Ayling, Liam Cooper, Stuart Dallas, Leif Davis and Kalvin Phillips were critical.

"With regard to Pablo, anybody who hasn't seen him play this season may be forgiven for questioning the wisdom of signing a 34-year-old on a longer term contract but we believe retaining the services of football's very own Benjamin Button is the shrewdest piece of business we will do this year."

Kinnear revealed that Klich's visit to the boardroom was a particularly sweet moment for the Polish international.

"It was his first since we were there to arrange his loan move to FC Utrecht in 2018 and he told us we were making a mistake and he would come back to prove us wrong. I think he's made his point."

The managing director also paid tribute to the work done by staff at Thorp Arch to revolutionise the fitness and conditioning of the players at Leeds United and enable them to dominate games, playing Marcelo Bielsa's demanding style of football.

"Our superior fitness is evident in all the in-game statistics," he said.

"This is in no small part down to head of strength conditioning Benoit Delaval, lead nutritionist Nessan Costello and head of facilities Mark Broadley who have collectively redefined the conditioning environment and culture at Thorp Arch. The 22-man squad now colletively weigh a full Jamie Shackleton less than they did prior to the new fitness regime's arrival."