Leeds United have secured promotion to the Premier League after suffering relegation to the Championship at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.
The Whites confirmed their return to the English top-flight with a dominant 6-0 victory against Stoke City at Elland Road on Monday.
The Yorkshire outfit also benefited from Burnley’s win over Sheffield United, with both sides now guranteed automatic promotion.
Joel Piroe proved to be the hero for Leeds yesterday, as the Dutchman netted a hat-trick inside the opening 20 minutes and added another before half-time.
The 25-year-old had not scored in his previous nine matches but found the back of the net after just six minutes against Stoke.
The Potters lost possession of the ball 20 yards from their own goal and Piroe took full advantage by firing it home.
He quickly added another after being set up by Jayden Bogle to put the hosts 2-0 ahead.
The unstoppable forward completed his hat-trick on 20 minutes by hammering in at an angle from a rebound.
Junior Firpo also earned his name on the scoresheet before Piroe bagged his fourth with a scrappy effort before half-time.
Manager Mark Robins made a few changes at the break and the pace of the game dropped off. However, Willy Gnonto netted the sixth on 59 minutes as Leeds wrapped up an excellent 6-0 success that guaranteed their return to the Premier League.
The Whites came very close to top-flight promotion last season when they made it to the play-offs final. But their fans had to endure huge disappointment as Southampton beat them 1-0 at the Wembley Stadium after Adam Armstrong’s decisive first-half goal.
An automatic promotion spot was also looking possible for Leeds at one point when they went on a 15-game unbeaten run in the Championship. But a late collapse had allowed Leicester City and Ipswich Town to grab the first two positions in the league.
