Three Trialists set to play against Wendnesday

Leeds United will give their three trialists another run-out at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday with Simon Grayson planning to rule on their fate after the weekend.

Leeds included Jlloyd Samuel, Isaiah Osbourne and French winger Alexandre Mendy in their squad for Tuesday’s pre-season friendly against Rochdale, and Grayson is planning to assess them again at Hillsborough on Saturday.

Thirty-year-old Samuel is a free agent and the most experienced of the three players after long spells in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Bolton Wanderers.

The left-back completed 45 minutes of United’s 1-0 win over Rochdale while former Villa trainee Osbourne played out the final half-hour in the centre of midfield.

Mendy, meanwhile, caught the eye with a lively performance in the first half and is set for a second outing with Leeds in Sheffield.

United declined to name the Frenchman on Tuesday night, preferring to keep his identity secret.

The 27-year-old winger played in the Czech Republic with FK Mlada Boleslav last season but left the club at the end of his contract.

He arrived at Thorp Arch on Monday and was given an immediate opportunity to impress at Spotland.

Grayson said: “He’s been recommended to us and hasn’t trained too much since the end of last season so we thought it would be a good opportunity to have a look at him.

“To be fair to him, I thought he did well. He was positive when he had the ball and he knew the shape of the team.”

Samuel and Osbourne linked up with Grayson’s squad on the morning of the Rochdale game and are continuing to train at Thorp Arch.

Osbourne left Villa in May after 30 appearances for the Birmingham club.

“They’ve both got Premier League experience, especially Jlloyd, and they’re going to be keen to impress and get contracts,” Grayson said.

“We can wait as long as we like before making offers but if they do particularly well then it’s something we might do quicker.

“All three will be with us until the weekend and they’ll play some part at Sheffield Wednesday. We’ll move things on from there.”