Leeds V Huddersfield at Elland Road : Match Preview

15 March 2013 13:01
Leeds V Huddersfield - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Duo facing late test

Leeds pair Steve Morison and Tom Lees both face late fitness tests ahead of the derby clash with Huddersfield.

Morison was replaced at half-time during the midweek draw with Peterborough due to a calf strain and defender Lees was forced off in the first half with a hip problem.

Jason Pearce will continue alongside skipper Lee Peltier in central defence if Lees is ruled out.

Striker Ross McCormack is also rated doubtful after taking a blow to his head on Tuesday night, while manager Neil Warnock revealed goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, midfield pair David Norris and Michael Tonge, plus defender Sam Byram are all nursing knocks.

Striker El-Hadji Diouf impressed as a second-half substitute in midweek and is pushing for a recall to the starting line-up and midfielders Michael Brown and Rudy Austin also provide Warnock with alternative options.

Leeds are bidding to kick-start their play-off challenge with victory after three straight draws.

Huddersfield manager Mark Robins confirmed striker Jermaine Beckford will play no part in the derby clash.

Beckford, on a season-long loan from Leicester, has been sidelined since January with a hamstring injury and will not be included in Robins' plans.

But fellow forward James Vaughan will return to contention after a two-game ban and Sean Scannell has an outside chance of returning to the squad after sitting out two matches due to a hamstring problem.

Winger Danny Ward is pushing for his first start since January after recovering from a broken bone in his foot. He has stepped off the substitutes' bench in Huddersfield's previous two matches.

Defender Calum Woods is also pushing for a recall after missing out recently with a hamstring strain, but midfielder Keith Southern remains sidelined with an Achilles injury.


Source: PA