Leeds United established a two-point cushion at the top of the Championship on Saturday.
Noel Whelan has claimed that former club Leeds United might be even better than last season.
United remain top of the Championship after cruising to a 3-0 win away to Stoke City on Saturday afternoon.
In doing so, Leeds made it 13 points from a possible 15 so far, with a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest their only blemish in an otherwise perfect start to the season.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side have scored 10 and conceded just twice in the Championship so far.
And Whelan has told BBC Radio Leeds that his old side could be a stronger version of the team that came so close to promotion last season.
He said: “I think [we are] mentally tougher [than last season], yes. In lots of ways we are [better than last season]. We know our jobs a lot better.
“It’s pretty much the same side from last season that we have, the same personnel.”
Bielsa’s troops finished third last time around after an end-of-season collapse ruined their automatic promotion chances.
Derby County eliminated them from the playoff semi-finals, but if Whelan is right and Leeds are better this year, it bodes very, very well for the Whites.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
