Leeds United announce 2017/18 squad numbers

Leeds United have today released their finalised squad numbers for the 2017/18 season. The full list can be seen below:

1 Rob Green

2 Luke Ayling

5 Matthew Pennington

6 Liam Cooper

7 Kemar Roofe

8 Vurnon Anita

9 Chris Wood

10 Ezgjan Alioski

11 Souleymane Doukara

12 Marcus Antonsson

13 Felix Wiedwald

14 Eunan O'Kane

15 Stuart Dallas

18 Pontus Jansson

19 Pablo Hernandez

21 Samuel Saiz

23 Kalvin Phillips

24 Hadi Sacko

25 Ronaldo Vieira

26 Liam Bridcutt

28 Gaetano Berardi

29 Madger Gomes

30 Bailey Peacock-Farrell

31 Lewie Coyle

33 Tyler Denton

35 Conor Shaughnessy

43 Mateusz Klich

45 Caleb Ekuban

Although most fans, myself included, read far too much into the numbers, there are some areas which immediately raise some questions.

Firstly, there is no number 3; does this mean there is a new left back coming in? This theory is only made stronger by the fact that Tyler Denton could be on his way out of Elland Road on loan. If this were to happen, this would create space for a new left back to come in, with the most likely candidates being Cameron Borthwick Jackson, or Reto Ziegler.

Interestingly, Matthew Pennington has been handed the no. 5 shirt. Maybe Thomas Christiansen has settled on the Everton loanee as a starting centre back next to Pontus Jansson? Pennington is a promising player, but personally I’m not so sure he should be a starter at the tender age of 22 as he lacks experience, and experience is exactly what you need to be a top-level championship defender. Who knows, maybe another centre back will arrive before the end of August.

The decision to give Ezgjan Alioski the coveted no. 10 shirt will undoubtedly please many fans as it suggests his involvement in the first team this year is going to be constant and important to the way Leeds shape up. After impressing in pre-season and at FC Lugano last year, I hope that this is correct as Alioski could be a player to really boost Leeds’s chances at promotion.

Surprisingly, Rob Green has been handed the no. 1 jersey suggesting that he may well start ahead of Felix Wiedwald in Sunday’s season opener against Bolton. Although Green was a rock in goal last season, many thought that new signing Wiedwald would get the nod over Green this year, however, the squad numbers might suggest otherwise. Maybe Christiansen is going to give both of these very competent goalkeepers a chance throughout the season - we will have to wait and see.

Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, Luke Ayling, Chris Wood, Kemar Roofe and Pablo Hernandez have all kept their numbers from last year as they look to cement their positions in the starting eleven despite an influx of fresh faces at Elland Road.

Only time will tell which players become first team regulars and which spend most of the season on the bench. And whilst squad numbers these days don’t mean a lot in theory, this seasons list does pose some interesting questions.

Have some thoughts about the squad list? Let us know in the comments below!

MOT.