Leeds United: Jayden Bogle will be thankful for Ipswich Town, Jack Clarke news as Sunderland test looms: View | OneFootball

This could be a key game in the Championship promotion race at the early stage of the season

Leeds United look set to face a big test of their Championship promotion credentials on Friday night.

Following their play-off final defeat to Southampton at the end of last season, Daniel Farke's side went in to the current campaign as one of the favourites to win promotion to the Premier League.

There have been some encouraging results in the early stages of the season, and the Whites currently sit fifth, with 15 points from eight league games.

With Leeds now set to be in action on Friday, they will see their next assignment as one where they can really lay down a marker, when it comes to the race to secure a place back in the top-flight.

Sunderland can be a big test for Leeds United

On Friday, Farke is set to take his side to the Stadium of Light, where they will take on a dangerous looking Sunderland side.

Under new manager Regis Le Bris, the Black Cats have enjoyed their own excellent start to the season.

They have claimed six wins from their eight league games so far, including victory at the Stadium of Light over one of those relegated from the Premier League last season, in the form of Burnley.

As a result, they go into Friday night's match top of the Championship standings, and with 16 league goals, they have scored more than any other side in the division.

This therefore, will certainly be a tough challenge for Leeds United, and in particular their defence.

However, it could be argued that one member of their backline may be rather relieved he is not facing a bigger challenge than might have been the case, if not for events over the summer.

Jayden Bogle will not have Jack Clarke test on Friday

Having joined Leeds in the summer from Sheffield United, Jayden Bogle has made a strong start to life with the Yorkshire club.

The right-back has been an ever-present in the starting XI in the league, producing some solid defensive performances, and chipping in with a goal in the recent win over Coventry City.

Friday's clash with Sunderland will be another chance for Bogle to show just how important he can be to his new club, over the course of the campaign.

However, one other move during the summer, means the Leeds man will have to face one less threat on Friday, than would otherwise have been the case.

Back in August, Jack Clarke departed Sunderland to join newly-promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town, in a deal worth a reported initial £15million.

In signing the left-winger, the Tractor Boys have arguably made life easier for Bogle, when it comes to his assignment on Friday night.

Given his own role on the right of defence, it is the 24-year-old who would have been predominantly tasked with having to deal with Clarke this weekend, if he was still at the Stadium of Light.

That would of course, have not been an easy task, with the winger having been a major attacking force in the Championship for Sunderland.

During his time playing in the second-tier with the Black Cats, Clarke scored 25 goals and provided 17 assists in 87 Championship games.

Indeed, he was considered by many to be among the biggest individual attacking threats in the division during his time with Sunderland in the last couple of seasons.

He has continued that form since making the step-up to the Premier League, registering his first assist in an eye-catching performance in Ipswich's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.

That has perhaps been made more impressive, by Villa's subsequent 1-0 win over German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League, highlighting the quality of that result for Clarke and co.

So with the former Sunderland man now proving his pedigree in the Premier League, he would surely have been a big challenge for Bogle, if he was playing for the Black Cats on Friday.