Leeds United Preview

We hadn't met in the league before 2004 and now we just can't seem to shake each other off. What was once a massive-game-of-the-season match for the Alex is now just another possible defeat, this fixture has certainly lost it's 'oomph' for us over the years.

Nonetheless, it's still a big game if we are to compete in this league. If we want to challenge in this league we need to take points of top 6 candidates. That, and we can't seem to do it against bottom of the table sides like Hereford.

Saturday's game has the tiniest drop of extra spice added to it. It's the return of Anthony Elding after his not so spectacular six months at Leeds. Perhaps it would have gone un-noticed by the Leeds faithful had it not come to light that their club had in fact cheated to buy Elding from Stockport in January.

Right. I'm off to play Spore.

'I didn't feel I got a proper chance at Leeds, that's the way football works and I'm big enough to accept his decision.

'Leeds saying they'd listen to offers was another way of saying I wasn't going to have a chance of playing, so moving on was the sensible thing to do.

'It didn't damage my belief and I'm confident I'll get 20 goals this season. I'm confident that if I'd been given the chance I'd have scored 20 goals for Leeds this season, and I'd love to score the winning goal on Saturday.

'The biggest disappointment for me was the fact that I played so few games in front of the Elland Road crowd, but I'm still very grateful for the fact that Leeds signed me in the first place.

'What I didn't want to do was sit tight, take my money and walk about saying I was a Leeds United player when it was obvious I wasn't going to play. That's how you become bitter and waste your career.

'I still feel it was the wrong decision to sell me, but then I would say that. It was Gary's decision and I'm sure he'd stick by it.'

Showumni and Huntington are both doubts. Sheehan and Telfer are back following injuries.

Slightly over rated but still a big threat, Jermaine Beckford will be made to look first class against our defence. Let's hope Collis gets a good night's sleep.

Michael O'Connor is injured and on international duty with Northern Ireland, ruling him out of this match twice over.

Chris McCready and Joel Grant are ruled out with hamstring strains, but both should be back next week. New signing John Brayford is ruled out with a groin strain.

George Abbey could return after training today.

If there is one player who will be fired up for this game then it'll be Elding.

Leeds: Lucas, Richardson, Marques, Michalik, Sheehan, Snodgrass, Prutton, Howson, Robinson, Beckford, Becchio

Crewe: Collis, Woodards, Baudet, O'Donnell, Jones, Moore, Rix/Bailey, Schumacher, Bopp, Elding, Zola

At time of writing no-one has yet predicted a Alex win on the Vital Crewe Prediction League. You optimistic bunch.

Colchester. Next week.

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