Leeds to field full-strength side against Shrewsbury on Saturday

Warnock insisted he was ready to field his prominent players in the first-round tie at Elland Road after an experienced line-up rounded off United’s pre-season schedule with a 1-0 win at Burton Albion last night.

Leeds were originally due to play another friendly on Friday night and meet Shrewsbury next Tuesday, with the Championship term beginning later than usual on August 18 due to the staging of the Olympic Games in London, but the Carling Cup game was moved to a weekend date with the agreement of both clubs.

Asked if it was the fixture would act as a final pre-season game ahead of United’s league clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers seven days later, Warnock said: “Very much so but it’s a competitive match.

“There’s something at stake and it’s great to be playing it on a Saturday.

“If it was in midweek then I’d play a weakened team because I don’t want anything going wrong during the last week before the (league) season.

“I wouldn’t dream of taking a risk or playing a first team. But we’ll play our strongest team.

“To be honest, we haven’t got much more than the team we played last night.

“We’ve got a decent XI but the squad’s a bit thin and we’re going to need a bit of luck with injuries.

“We might have to rely on one or two of the youngsters at times too.”

United emerged from yesterday’s friendly without any fresh fitness concerns and new signings Lee Peltier and rodolph Austin made their first appearances after linking up with Warnock’s squad for training on Monday afternoon.

Warnock said: “The new lads got a game and that was important.

“You wouldn’t have thought that they were new to the team. They settled in straight away.

“We’re still lacking a few goals but we’ve improved every time we’ve played.

“I thought it was a good work out, no holds barred and nobody holding back. It’s looking quite promising at the minute.”

l oN the Scottish football front, Dean Shiels marked his debut with a goal as rangers eased past East Fife into the second round of the Scottish Communities League Cup with a 4-0 victory last night.

Lee McCulloch claimed a double and Lee Wallace was also on the scoresheet in the first match at Ibrox since rangers were consigned to liquidation and voted into the Irn-Bru Third Division.

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