LEEDS United may not have gained maximum points against Leicester City at Elland Road on Sunday but go in to the international break in better shape than at any time this Premier League season.

A point from a 1-1 draw against a strong Foxes outfit is not to be sniffed at even though the Whites could have won with steadier finishing.

Leeds had more of the ball and more clear-cut chances but Leicester also had a goal chalked off by VAR for a tight offside decision.

There were some great individual performances among the Whites ranks none more so than midfielder Adam Forshaw, making his first Premier League start after two injury-ravaged seasons.

In a helter-skelter game he was calmness personified, keeping Leeds ticking over on the front foot and snuffing out danger. His inclusion ahead of Mateusz Klich in the engine room was a major surprise but coach Marclo Bielsa’s decision to start Forshaw was rewarded.

Bielsa said: It’s a prize for his perseverance. He spent two years without playing, he never gave up - also to give value to people who collaborated in his recovery, it’s very difficult to come back and play at this level after two years having not done so and more than any consideration Forshaw got this by himself. To overcome all of this that he had to overcome, has to make him feel very recomforted with himself and it’s a message because I seriously had doubts that he could achieve what he just achieved. 

Another bonus was the inclusion of defender Pascal Struijk in the unfamiliar role of left-back. The 22-year-old is developing into a real “Bielsa player” – one who can fulfil a number of different roles in the team.

Overall the game was closer to the type of high-octane Leeds matches that lit up the Premiership last season.

Even Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers relished the battle. He said: “That was more the [Leeds] team that we’ve seen, in terms of that running capacity, and obviously the crowd really pushed and helped the team. The atmosphere was great. It felt like an old school British game. It was so good. I really enjoyed it.”

It was non-stop action from start to finish with United’s talisman Raphinha bending in a vicious 26th-minute free-kick past Kasper Schemechel – a lead vanished within the blink of an eye.

Straight from the kick-off Jonny Evans’ long ball was flicked on by Boubakary Soumare for Harvey Barnes to curl a sumptuous shot beyond Illan Meslier.

With the threat of Jamie Vardy nullified, Leeds fashioned the better chances but conspired to miss them –the worst being a close-range effort from Jack Harrison and a volley from Rodrigo. Daniel James, again tried at centre-forward, was a major threat with his pace but lacked a calm head when it came to shooting.

Those wasted openings looked as though they would be costly when Ademola Lookman bundled home from close range after Leeds failed to deal with a corner midway through the second half but the effort was ruled out by a marginal VAR decision.

The point lifted Leeds three points clear of the relegation places.

Leeds United: Meslier, Dallas, Llorente, Cooper, Struijk, Phillips, Forshaw (Cresswell 90), James, Harrison (Roberts 83), Raphinha, Rodrigo.  Subs (not used): Klaesson, Bate, Hjelde, Drameh, Summerville, McKinstry, Klich. Caution: Raphinha

Leicester City: Schmeichel, Pereira, Soyuncu, Evans, Vastagne, Soumare, Ndidi, Tielemans (Dewsbury-Hall 77), Lookman (Maddison 80), Barnes (Amartey 70), Vardy. Subs (not used): Ward, Iheanacho, Perez, Vestergaard, Daka, Thomas. Caution: Ndidi

Referee: Darren England Att: 36,478