Daniel Farke has suggested key Leeds United players were ‘distracted’ during last season’s Championship promotion run-in as early transfer offers cropped up.

It is the second successive year where United have got off to a relatively slow start following a big squad rebuild. Farke, who steered the Whites to the play-off final last season, is acutely aware of the need to stay within touching distance of their promotion rivals.

Leeds United travel to bottom side Cardiff City on Saturday for a rare 15:00 BST kick-off. It will be the Whites' first chance to recover after the first league defeat of the season last weekend against Burnley where manager Daniel Farke felt his side had performed well.

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke is likely only to make changes of an enforced nature against Cardiff City this weekend.

Criticising Daniel Farke for overseeing just four wins in Leeds United’s last 14 league games is not fair, in his eyes. After Saturday’s loss, some fans pointed out the manager’s poor recent record when you club together the end of last season with the start of this term.

Daniel Farke has the statistics to back up his belief that Leeds United are playing well and working harder than in last season's run-in, so he says he must hold his nerve whilst others worry about their form.