Preview

 

Sports Mole previews Sunday's friendly clash between Hearts and Leeds United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Scottish side Hearts welcome Leeds United to Tynecastle Park on Sunday as both sides continue to build fitness levels for their respective seasons.

The home side have claimed one win from five in preseason, while Leeds claimed a 2-0 triumph over Premier League side Nottingham Forest on Thursday.

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Match preview

Steven Naismith and Frankie McAvoy have not had results go Hearts' way in the off-season, with losses against Plymouth Argyle. Wigan Athletic and Mansfield Town and a draw at Dunfermline leaving them with one victory in five matches – a 2-0 win over Fleetwood Town is the club's only victory.

Admittedly, five games is a small sample; however, the Scottish side's absence of victories is eyebrow-raising.

HMFC's form in their tune-up games slightly mirrors their results at the backend of last season when they claimed one victory in their concluding five fixtures.

They hope to be fortunate on Sunday, with the Leeds game Hearts' concluding pre-season match before Premiership action begins on August 5 at St. Johnstone.

A victory will be just what the doctor ordered for a side short on victories stretching to the previous campaign.

If Hearts have hitherto struggled, Leeds did not fare better until they got the better of Nottingham Forest on Thursday, defeating the Premier League side 2-0.

That triumph saw the Championship side score their first goals under Daniel Farke, who took the reins at the start of July.

Patrick Bamford and Ian Carlo Poveda netted second-half goals for the Championship outfit, and Leeds seek to record consecutive victories on Sunday.

The Whites have retained many pivotal players from last year's underwhelming campaign, so eyes will be on the side that suffered Premier League relegation.

With Farke finally having a result to smile about, Leeds seek a repeat showing and result to put them in an encouraging position before the season's commencement.

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Team News

Craig Halkett and Craig Gordon are still out with long-term injuries that have kept them sidelined since December 2022 – both are absent for the Leeds encounter.

Michael McGovern, a free transfer from Norwich City, could start in goal, with Zander Clark getting minutes off the bench.

Ethan Ampadu has featured heavily since joining the club from Chelsea, and the Wales international should start for Leeds on Sunday.

Bamford could keep his place in the side after playing a pivotal part in the Forest win, even if Farke is expected to rotate his side after exertions against the Tricky Trees.

Hearts possible starting lineup:
McGovern; Sibbick, Neilson, Rowles, Kingsley; Forrest, Haring, Baningime, Cochrane; Shankland, Boyce

Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Ayling, Cresswell, Cooper, Struijk; Ampadu, Shackleton; James, Summerville, Sinisterra; Bamford

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We say: Hearts 1-2 Leeds United

Leeds could inflict a slender loss on Hearts on Sunday, with the Scottish side not pulling up trees throughout their off-season fixtures.

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