Frustration for five first-teamers ruled out of friendly by injuries

Leeds United boss Daniel Farke has explained why five of his senior players were absent from the squad that drew 1-1 with Spanish side Villarreal at Elland Road.

- by Graham Smyth

The Whites fell behind in the second half after a dull first period, Etta Eyong reacting quickest after an Illan Meslier save pushed the ball onto the bar. They hit back almost immediately when Brenden Aaronson skinned a defender and crossed dangerously before the ball ended up in front of Joel Piroe and he sidefooted in to level.

Leeds were without new goalkeeper Lucas Perri, Jayden Bogle, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Daniel James and Jack Harrison.

Mateo Joseph was present at Elland Road but Farke insisted, after the game, that the striker is not in his plans for the upcoming Premier League season because he cannot afford to have a distracted player in the group.

Minor injuries were at the heart of the rest of the absences, including Perri who arrived with a niggle from Lyon.

"We have Lucas Perri who is building his fitness after a little injury he had when he signed," said Farke. "He's more or less just with us since the middle or end of the training camp.