'Absolute joy' - Gary Neville makes Leeds United declaration and outlines Whites wish for Manchester United opener

Leeds will begin their second term back in the country's top division by taking on their arch rivals in their own back yard over the weekend of August 14.

The Whites stormed to a ninth-placed finish upon last season's Premier League return and Neville only hopes that fans from both sides will be able to pack Old Trafford to the rafters for the season opener.

It remains to be seen what sort of restrictions will be in place in the country's ongoing battle against coronavirus although Neville has urged home secretary Priti Patel and her ministers to concentrate on filling stadiums as opposed to the ongoing debate about fans booing any players taking the knee.

Neville told Sky Sports news as quoted by The Express: "I just hope that Priti Patel and her ministers, rather than concentrating on sort of booing England players, actually allow fans back in the stadium for that game so we can actually get a proper atmosphere.

"It will be a fantastic game. Leeds United being back in the Premier League last season, they were an absolute joy to watch every single game. Manchester United had a good Premier League season.

"If we can get close to a full house in that particular match it will just be an incredible welcome back to fans in the stadium in terms of capacities. It's something that's much needed.

"We've seen the announcement in the last few days that they're going to be full at Ascot and full at Wimbledon, I've not got any reason to think why Old Trafford shouldn't be full for the first game of the season."

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins