Leeds United to take on Stoke City in pre-season clash as Premier League preparations intensify

Michael O'Neill has confirmed Leeds United will travel to Stoke City on Tuesday for a pre-season friendly as Marcelo Bielsa's Premier League preparations continue.

The Whites have been back in training at Thorp Arch in recent weeks with the Argentine putting his squad through their paces ahead of the club's opening day clash at Liverpool on September 12.

United's players faced four murderball sessions last week and will now take on the Potters at the Clayton Wood training ground in Staffordshire.

The game will take place behind closed doors.

Leeds will be without a number of international players with Kalvin Phillips, Stuart Dallas, Mateusz Klich, Liam Cooper and Gjanni Alioski amongst those to receive call-ups.

New signings Rodrigo and Robin Koch are also away with their respective countries.

City boss O'Neill - who will host United on Tuesday before taking on Newcastle later this week - says he is relishing the test against Bielsa's outfit.

"They’re very important friendlies and they’ll be tough," O'Neill said.

“We’ll play a tough Leeds side and they’ll certainly challenge you and then away at Newcastle.

"Both Premier League teams so we’ll have to step up a good few gears from where we were against Blackpool.

“But that’s the challenge that we want and to get the maximum out of our squad we have to be tested and challenged.”