Report details how Laurens De Bock stayed fit after being cast aside by Leeds United

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This summer saw Leeds United again trying to offload plenty of players who have failed to make the grade under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa. The likes of Hadi Sacko, Pawel Cibicki, and Yosuke Ideguchi, for example, were asked to find new clubs. 

Another player who found himself in that boat was Belgian defender Laurens De Bock. The left-back struggled to make an impact at Leeds United following his move from Club Brugge in January 2018. 

Last summer, Bielsa quickly established that De Bock had no future at Elland Road whilst he was manager and he headed on loan to KV Oostende. 

This summer he eventually joined Sunderland on loan until the end of the season. Now, a report from The Chronicle has detailed what he did in the time between his Oostende deal ending and agreeing a move to Sunderland. 

It appears De Bock really was told he had no place at Leeds, as he did not even return to the club. The report claims that De Bock spent the summer training alone in Belgium, rather than heading back to Thorp Arch. Among that time period also came a failed move to Aris Thessaloniki in Greece but it appears De Bock was largely left alone by the West Yorkshire club.

Even the likes of fellow outcasts Vurnon Anita and Ouasim Buoy were pictured at Leeds, training among themselves, this summer. De Bock, it seems, was not afforded this luxury. 

It goes some way to highlighting just how low down the pecking order he is in the eyes of Bielsa and Leeds United. 

He is now hoping to build up his fitness and get regular playing time with the Black Cats in their battle for League One promotion.

He will surely be hoping that leads to a future transfer as with his contract at Leeds not expiring until 2022, he could face another summer training alone otherwise.