Former Premier League manager Chris Hughton has claimed that it’s ‘such a shame’ that Leeds United fans won’t be present for their Premier League return.
The fixtures for the 2020-21 campaign were released this afternoon and the newly-promoted Whites have an ominous start to the season.
Leeds kick off their Premier League return with a trip to champions Liverpool on September 12.
It’s been 16 years since the Elland Road club last graced the top flight and with the global health crisis wreaking havoc on sporting events across the world, it is still too early for supporters to return to their respective stadia.
Facing off England’s elite in a competitive game again has been a long, long time coming for Leeds fans.
And the former Newcastle United and Brighton boss has told talkSPORT’s White and Sawyer show [broadcast 10am, August 20] that he’s sad for fans of the West Yorkshire club.
Hughton said: “It’s absolutely such a shame that Leeds supporters won’t be there for that first game. That’s the biggest thing. As much as we’re in the game, it is about the supporters and particularly knowing the volume of support that Leeds United have got.”
Leeds fans are indeed a class act and although they’ll absolutely be gutted to miss such a huge occasion, they can rest easy in the knowledge that there’s plenty of other big games in the calendar – including home and away against Manchester United.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side go to Old Trafford on December 19 and then welcome the Red Devils to Yorkshire on April 24, and hopefully a sense of normality has returned by then and fans are permitted to attend.
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