Leeds have now landed in Ireland for the three match tour, and there are a few significant absentees from the squad.

Gary Mc.Allister has already said that he would leave behind those players who weren’t in his plans for the coming season, and seven first team squad members have been omitted from the travelling party that was announced this morning. There are reasons for some absences, with Kilkenny preparing to represent Australia in the Olympics, Fabian Delph away with the England under-19s, and Kandol out with a mystery virus.

But it doesn’t augur well for the remaining four, namely Elding, Carole, Westlake and Weston.  Elding will go as soon as Leeds offload him, and Westlake is unsettled as his girlfriend and child are still living down in Ipswich, so he wants to return down south. Weston has hardly figured under Macca, but Carole’s absence is more of a disappointment to some of us. I would have kept him on, as he played well at the start of last season, and few defences at this level seem able to handle him, but for some reason Macca just doesn’t rate him.

One surprise is that Canadian Under 21 international Marcus Haber has been included in the party, having been given a trial by the club as Mc.Allister continues to look for strikers to add to his squad. Haber is currently on the books of Eredivisie side FC Groningen.  

The tour includes games against Galway United, Bray Wanderers and Shelbourne, and McAllister told the official website: "We're looking forward to the trip. It's the next step for us and we're building things up gradually. The three teams we're playing are all mid-season so they will have their match fitness and we're looking forward to three good games. I always feel getting away out of the training camp, living with each other morning, noon and night, there's that bonding and togetherness which going on a pre-season camp brings."

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