Leeds United are Premier League with unconventional promotion welcomed by relieved and open arms

At first, it looked like the Whites would finally regain their top-flight status without even kicking another ball as the country continued its battle against coronavirus.

Then United's fans became resigned to being unable to see their team play; apart from 15,000 cardboard crowdies that is.

Then came an even more unusual twist, thousands of Whites fans around the globe cheering on Huddersfield Town.

But after 16 long years without top-flight football Leeds United are once again a Premier League side and given a wait like that, promotion in any form is welcomed with very relieved open arms.

Now all that remains is for United's fans to be given their proper chance to celebrate, though rest assured there will still be plenty of that this weekend.

The global pandemic of coronavirus has caused havoc all over the globe and Leeds United Football Club has felt its effects in more ways than one.

In one of the saddest days in the club's history, legendary former Whites defender Norman Hunter passed away on April 17 after his brave battle against COVID-19.

But with Hunter very much in their mind as well as well as another fallen legend in Trevor Cherry, Leeds soon had another battle to resume, the never-ending quest to finally seal a return to English football's top flight for the first time since 2004.

There have been times before this year where the wait looked destined to be over.

In May 2006, United found themselves one game away from returning to the Premier League in the Championship play-off final against Watford.

The consequences of a sorry 3-0 defeat would prove devastating with Leeds relegated to English football's third tier for the first time in their proud history.

The Premier League seemed miles away yet now Leeds are back in it. But in very unconventional fashion.

After the English football season became suspended in March, Championship front-runners United knew that if the rest of the campaign had to be scrapped that they would be promoted without kicking another ball via the EFL's unweighted points per game method.

Leeds, though, wanted to complete the job properly, on the pitch, even though it would be without their fans.

Amidst the continued social distancing measures, United's final nine games of the season would have to be played behind closed doors including five games at Elland Road.

Instead, United ensured that Leeds were willed on by 15,000 cardboard cut outs in the Elland Road stands.

Even those cardboard cut outs will have been covering their eyes such was the tension of Thursday evening's home clash against Barnsley which Leeds approached knowing four more points from their final three games would see them promoted.

United dug deep to record a 1-0 victory meaning and the relief on the faces of head coach Marcelo Bielsa, chairman Andrea Radrizzani, chief executive Angus Kinnear and director of football Victor Orta was obvious.

One more point would now do, or, if West Brom or Brentford slipped up, not even that.

As if not being able to see their side clinch promotion was not enough, United's fans were now facing the prospect of their side going up without even playing; and without being able to properly celebrate; not with the team, not in unison in the Elland Road stands.

And all this amidst more emotion following the death of the club's record appearance holder Jack Charlton last weekend.

Whites star Pablo Hernandez dedicated last weekend's vital win at Swansea City to Charlton and said the Leeds and England legend would be helping them from the sky in their promotion bid.

In the most bizarre circumstances, after West Brom's 2-1 defeat at Huddersfield, that promotion bid is done.

Leeds United are back in the Premier League and the city of Leeds will take that any way it can.