Leeds United fans will see Marcelo Bielsa's team return to action at Cardiff City - but not as we know it

Leeds United fans will get their first taste of match action for over three months this weekend as football makes it's long-awaited return - but not as we know it.

There will be no early morning coach ride or pre-match pie or even visit to the pub for Whites supporters on Sunday as Marcelo Bielsa's squad make the journey to Cardiff City for the restart of the Championship run-in.

England's national game has been on hiatus for over three months amid the coronavirus pandemic but will once again resume this weekend behind closed doors with terraces up and down the country left empty.

"I think every football fan will be excited," Graham Hyde of the Leeds United Supporters Trust said of football's return.

"Leeds fans will be somewhat scared because there's an opportunity for us to mess it up still but it's going to be very weird because we can't be there.

"Many people before the lockdown will have been thinking how they were going to get to Cardiff for an away day but now it's happening without us there.

"Everything is going to be at arm's length and it's going to feel very strange for what is a super emotional relationship between fans and club.

"There's a bit of detachment when you're watching on TV and you see things in a completely different way.

"It is going to be a different experience, but it's a safe experience and that's the key - especially given the people we've lost over the past few months.

"Let's do it as safely as possible and then we can worry about being back in stadiums when it's safe to do so."

The Whites sit top of the Championship table ahead of the nine game run-in, and with promotion in their sights the Trust has a clear message for any fans thinking of heading to stadiums to support the team.

Supporters have been vocal on social media warning against anyone thinking about travelling to either home or away games.

There is no set punishment for any sides that see fans turn up, but neutral venues for those that do break the rules have been mooted.

"We need to make sure there aren't any problems in terms of peoples health or well-being. We must allow the games to get on," Hyde concluded.

"Our message has been stay away, do it out of respect for your fellow fans and protect our chances of promotion.

"We don't want any risk of random shifts of games to make them played on neutral venues which would place us at a disadvantage in what will already be a challenging environment."