LUFC Leeds giving trials to trio

Leeds United are giving trials to a trio of players at the moment.

Defender Ricardo Rocha, defender Stephen Folan and striker Joan Pons have all featured for Leeds this week.

Experienced defender Rocha has been at Elland Road for the past week in a bid to earn a deal with the club. The Portuguese international has been without a club since being released by Portsmouth at the end of last season.

Rocha was named Portsmouth`s player of the season last season but was released to ease the cash strapped clubs financial burden.

He recently had a short trial at Ipswich Town.

Rocha made his name with Portuguese side Benfica, where he won the league and cup during his five seasons at the Estadio Da Luz.

He joined Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2007 in a deal worth a reported £3.3 million but he struggled during his time at White Hart Lane, making just 18 appearances in three seasons.

He left Tottenham and joined Belgium side Standard Liege in the summer of 2009 but after making just four Champions League appearances, he returned to England in February 2010 to sign for Portsmouth. He helped the south coast club reach the FA Cup final, playing in both the semi-final and final.

He went on to make 76 appearances for Portsmouth in his two and a half seasons at Fratton Park, including 35 appearances last season.

Stephen Folan is a 20-year-old defender currently at Newcastle United.

Folan is a versatile player who can play at centre back, left full back or in midfield.

He joined Newcastle from the League of Ireland and they were forced to pay £75,000 to two Irish clubs (Mervue United - £36,549 and Salthill Devon - £30,701) in compensation.

He has been capped at under 17 level for Ireland.


Joan Pons is a 23-year-old striker who has been playing with the Real Sociedad B side in the reserve league of Spanish football.

He made 3 starts in 15 appearances for Sociedad last season without scoring.

Pons started out at CE Premia before signing for Recreativo Huelva B and he is also known as Joan Pons Barrera.

He played in the development squad game with Huddersfield Town on Monday and he had a couple of good chances to open his Leeds account.

He found time and space in the Huddersfield penalty area but shot straight at Tom Clarke in the Huddersfield goal. He also went close with a free kick, shooting just wide of the target.




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