Yorkshire Evening Post 29/6/10
Grayson won't rush Kisnorbo
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson says player of the year Patrick Kisnorbo will be under no pressure to step up his recovery from Achilles surgery when the countdown to the Championship season begins on Thursday.
United's players are 48 hours away from the start of pre-season training after a seven-week summer break but Kisnorbo will remain in the treatment room at Thorp Arch while Grayson's squad launch their preparation for the 2010-11 term.
The Australian international ruptured an Achilles tendon in March, ruling him out of the end of United's League One campaign and the World Cup, but he initially set himself the tentative target of resuming light training next month.
Leeds hope Kisnorbo could make his first-team return around the start of November but Grayson is unwilling to apply definite timescales to the defender's comeback, insisting he was fully prepared to plan without Kisnorbo until the closing weeks of the year. The sudden loss of Kisnorbo created a major hole in Grayson's defence last season, a hole filled by on a temporary basis by loan signing Neill Collins, and Leeds are expected to add a centre-back to their squad to ensure they reach the start of the new campaign with sufficient strength in depth.
Grayson admitted that Kisnorbo's return would be a "big boost" but said: "From the start, the assumption with Paddy was that his injury would take months to heal rather than weeks.
"I'm sure he's desperate to get back just as we'd want to have him fit and available but we won't force his recovery and I still don't want to put a timescale on his comeback. He'll take as long as he needs to.
"There's no possibility of him being fit for the start of the season so there's absolutely no reason to rush him. I'd much rather he took his time and came back in perfect shape. It'll be a big boost when he does."
Left-back Ben Parker's calf injury is also likely to prevent him from training on Thursday, and he is expected to miss much of Leeds' pre-season schedule because of a problem sustained a fortnight before the end of last term.
Andy Robinson, Lubomir Michalik, Alan Sheehan and Tresor Kandol – four players who Leeds have deemed surplus to requirements – are also due back at Thorp Arch on Thursday having so far failed to find new clubs.
Yorkshire Evening Post 27/6/10
Places are up for grabs – Grayson
By Phil Hay
Simon Grayson has warned that Leeds United players should make no assumptions about first-team selection when they assemble at Thorp Arch for the start of pre-season training this week.
Grayson will welcome his squad back to the club's training ground on Thursday morning and United's manager said he had no pre-conceived ideas about the team he will turn to on the first afternoon of the Championship term.
United's players have spent the past seven weeks reflecting on their dramatic promotion from League One but Grayson has been active in the interim, making four signings and promising that others will follow before Derby County visit Elland Road on Saturday, August 7.
Grayson promised that he would give a fair opportunity to the players responsible for lifting Leeds out of League One at the third attempt but he has delivered on his threat to be "ruthless" and make multiple changes to his squad before the Championship season begins.
New recruits Kasper Schmeichel, Billy Paynter, Paul Connolly and Federico Bessone are due to meet their new team-mates for the first time on Thursday, and the squad will undertake a programme of fitness work before flying out to Slovakia for the club's first friendly against MFK Ruzomberok on July 13.
Schmeichel's battle with current first-choice goalkeeper Shane Higgs will be one of the more fascinating contests, mirroring the battle for selection between Higgs and Casper Ankergren last summer, but Grayson said every position should be seen as available, despite the success of last season.
"It'll be the same for all the players," he said. "There isn't a position in the team that's guaranteed to anyone and I really mean that.
"The team I choose on the first day of the season will come down entirely to what happens in pre-season. It's not about how we played last season or what people have done in their careers before coming here. I'm only interested in who looks fittest, sharpest and in the best form through July and at the start of August.
"I've always taken that approach and I don't want anyone coming back thinking that shirts are theirs to lose or that they're at the front of the queue. There isn't a queue at the moment and there won't be until later in the summer."
Grayson made plain his plans for major restructuring by releasing two players and telling four senior professionals that they would be better served by transfers elsewhere. The loss of striker Jermaine Beckford to Everton on a free transfer also heightened the importance of his work in the transfer market.
The signing of Schmeichel and subsequent deals for right-back Connolly and left-back Bessone have completed a large degree of Grayson's defensive recruitment, though United's manager is expected to look for another centre-back before the Championship season starts.
Australian defender Patrick Kisnorbo is continuing to aim for a comeback in October or early November after rupturing an Achilles tendon towards the end of last term. Left-back Ben Parker is also likely to be prevented from starting training on Thursday morning having damaged a calf in April.
The signing of Paynter on a three-year deal from Swindon Town, meanwhile, strengthened United's group of forwards in the wake of Beckford's exit.
Grayson has been linked to several other strikers, notably Gary Hooper, Billy Sharp and Rob Hulse, and he recently gave a clear indication that at least one more forward would move to Elland Road this summer following the capture of Paynter on a free transfer.
United's boss will look to improve his squad further before the club travel to Slovakia for a two-game tour which ends in a clash with MFK Kosice on July 16.
Leeds have also arranged games with Bury and Hartlepool United and will travel to Norway to play Lyn Oslo before winding up their pre-season campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road on July 31, the club's only home friendly.
Grayson said: "It's a good, intense programme and I wanted us to get away for a few days together.
"I think that's quite important, just to give the new lads a chance to familiarise themselves with everyone and also to break up the usual routine of pre-season.
"The opposition in Slovakia and Norway will be decent and we're finishing off at home to Wolves so we certainly should be ready for the new season. The players will know that they're on an even keel as far as selection goes and who makes the team is really down to them."
United finished last season with several loanees on their books, and Grayson is yet to indicate whether he will move to bring any of them back to Elland Road.
Gary McSheffrey has transferred from Birmingham City to Coventry City and Leeds are not expected to look for another deal for Aston Villa's Shane Lowry, but Neill Collins and Michael Doyle both ended their loans at Elland Road with comments confirming their desire to join the club permanently.
Preston North End defender Collins said he would "walk from Preston" to take up a long-term deal with Leeds and Doyle is also keen to seal a switch from Coventry.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder remains on the books of Coventry, however, and he is due to report back to his parent club for the beginning of City's pre-season programme tomorrow.
Grayson won't rush Kisnorbo
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson says player of the year Patrick Kisnorbo will be under no pressure to step up his recovery from Achilles surgery when the countdown to the Championship season begins on Thursday.
United's players are 48 hours away from the start of pre-season training after a seven-week summer break but Kisnorbo will remain in the treatment room at Thorp Arch while Grayson's squad launch their preparation for the 2010-11 term.
The Australian international ruptured an Achilles tendon in March, ruling him out of the end of United's League One campaign and the World Cup, but he initially set himself the tentative target of resuming light training next month.
Leeds hope Kisnorbo could make his first-team return around the start of November but Grayson is unwilling to apply definite timescales to the defender's comeback, insisting he was fully prepared to plan without Kisnorbo until the closing weeks of the year. The sudden loss of Kisnorbo created a major hole in Grayson's defence last season, a hole filled by on a temporary basis by loan signing Neill Collins, and Leeds are expected to add a centre-back to their squad to ensure they reach the start of the new campaign with sufficient strength in depth.
Grayson admitted that Kisnorbo's return would be a "big boost" but said: "From the start, the assumption with Paddy was that his injury would take months to heal rather than weeks.
"I'm sure he's desperate to get back just as we'd want to have him fit and available but we won't force his recovery and I still don't want to put a timescale on his comeback. He'll take as long as he needs to.
"There's no possibility of him being fit for the start of the season so there's absolutely no reason to rush him. I'd much rather he took his time and came back in perfect shape. It'll be a big boost when he does."
Left-back Ben Parker's calf injury is also likely to prevent him from training on Thursday, and he is expected to miss much of Leeds' pre-season schedule because of a problem sustained a fortnight before the end of last term.
Andy Robinson, Lubomir Michalik, Alan Sheehan and Tresor Kandol – four players who Leeds have deemed surplus to requirements – are also due back at Thorp Arch on Thursday having so far failed to find new clubs.
Yorkshire Evening Post 27/6/10
Places are up for grabs – Grayson
By Phil Hay
Simon Grayson has warned that Leeds United players should make no assumptions about first-team selection when they assemble at Thorp Arch for the start of pre-season training this week.
Grayson will welcome his squad back to the club's training ground on Thursday morning and United's manager said he had no pre-conceived ideas about the team he will turn to on the first afternoon of the Championship term.
United's players have spent the past seven weeks reflecting on their dramatic promotion from League One but Grayson has been active in the interim, making four signings and promising that others will follow before Derby County visit Elland Road on Saturday, August 7.
Grayson promised that he would give a fair opportunity to the players responsible for lifting Leeds out of League One at the third attempt but he has delivered on his threat to be "ruthless" and make multiple changes to his squad before the Championship season begins.
New recruits Kasper Schmeichel, Billy Paynter, Paul Connolly and Federico Bessone are due to meet their new team-mates for the first time on Thursday, and the squad will undertake a programme of fitness work before flying out to Slovakia for the club's first friendly against MFK Ruzomberok on July 13.
Schmeichel's battle with current first-choice goalkeeper Shane Higgs will be one of the more fascinating contests, mirroring the battle for selection between Higgs and Casper Ankergren last summer, but Grayson said every position should be seen as available, despite the success of last season.
"It'll be the same for all the players," he said. "There isn't a position in the team that's guaranteed to anyone and I really mean that.
"The team I choose on the first day of the season will come down entirely to what happens in pre-season. It's not about how we played last season or what people have done in their careers before coming here. I'm only interested in who looks fittest, sharpest and in the best form through July and at the start of August.
"I've always taken that approach and I don't want anyone coming back thinking that shirts are theirs to lose or that they're at the front of the queue. There isn't a queue at the moment and there won't be until later in the summer."
Grayson made plain his plans for major restructuring by releasing two players and telling four senior professionals that they would be better served by transfers elsewhere. The loss of striker Jermaine Beckford to Everton on a free transfer also heightened the importance of his work in the transfer market.
The signing of Schmeichel and subsequent deals for right-back Connolly and left-back Bessone have completed a large degree of Grayson's defensive recruitment, though United's manager is expected to look for another centre-back before the Championship season starts.
Australian defender Patrick Kisnorbo is continuing to aim for a comeback in October or early November after rupturing an Achilles tendon towards the end of last term. Left-back Ben Parker is also likely to be prevented from starting training on Thursday morning having damaged a calf in April.
The signing of Paynter on a three-year deal from Swindon Town, meanwhile, strengthened United's group of forwards in the wake of Beckford's exit.
Grayson has been linked to several other strikers, notably Gary Hooper, Billy Sharp and Rob Hulse, and he recently gave a clear indication that at least one more forward would move to Elland Road this summer following the capture of Paynter on a free transfer.
United's boss will look to improve his squad further before the club travel to Slovakia for a two-game tour which ends in a clash with MFK Kosice on July 16.
Leeds have also arranged games with Bury and Hartlepool United and will travel to Norway to play Lyn Oslo before winding up their pre-season campaign against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road on July 31, the club's only home friendly.
Grayson said: "It's a good, intense programme and I wanted us to get away for a few days together.
"I think that's quite important, just to give the new lads a chance to familiarise themselves with everyone and also to break up the usual routine of pre-season.
"The opposition in Slovakia and Norway will be decent and we're finishing off at home to Wolves so we certainly should be ready for the new season. The players will know that they're on an even keel as far as selection goes and who makes the team is really down to them."
United finished last season with several loanees on their books, and Grayson is yet to indicate whether he will move to bring any of them back to Elland Road.
Gary McSheffrey has transferred from Birmingham City to Coventry City and Leeds are not expected to look for another deal for Aston Villa's Shane Lowry, but Neill Collins and Michael Doyle both ended their loans at Elland Road with comments confirming their desire to join the club permanently.
Preston North End defender Collins said he would "walk from Preston" to take up a long-term deal with Leeds and Doyle is also keen to seal a switch from Coventry.
The Republic of Ireland midfielder remains on the books of Coventry, however, and he is due to report back to his parent club for the beginning of City's pre-season programme tomorrow.