The Clarets boss watched as several members of his squad, including many selected for the first game of the season, left Turf Moor in the latter part of the summer window.
Luke McNally, Dar O’Shea, Vitinho, Scott Twine, Wilson Odobert, Anass Zaroury and Wout Weghorst are all missing from the squad that secured a 4-1 victory over Luton Town in their first game of the 2024/25 season. club.
“I don’t really understand the dynamics of the transfer window and how you leave it open three or four games into the season,” Parker said, as quoted by the Burnley Express.
“It’s pre-season and you’ve got six to eight weeks with a group of players and again, I don’t just mean myself, I mean every manager out there, put in the work, do a lot of detailed work in terms of the squad you want and within two or three weeks can make a drastic difference, and that probably happened a little bit here.”
Burnley’s matchday squad for their last game – a 1-0 defeat at leaders Sunderland – included youngsters named on the bench and two goalkeepers, with Parker’s options limited. The club have made 15 new signings this summer but have seen 21 players leave in what has been a period of considerable upheaval for their Championship hopes.
In addition to Parker’s less than “ideal” fitness for the away game at Elland Road, six members of his first team are on international duty this week and next. However, this is unlikely to be a significant advantage for Leeds, if at all, as they themselves have 12 first-team players away from their countries.
“You work with players and you work on things and then those players leave the club, so I don’t think it’s ideal. I don’t understand it either,” added the Fulham and Bournemouth manager.
Leeds host Burnley at 12.30pm on Saturday 14th September as club football resumes after the September international break.