Hello and welcome to the Leeds United live blog for Sunday, February 17.
All eyes are on the Whites' nearest Championship rivals as Marcelo Bielsa and his side take a rest from action this weekend because their scheduled opponent, Queens Park Rangers, played in the FA Cup last night.
Norwich City, United's nearest challengers, visited Lancashire for the second time this week and beat Bolton Wanderers at University of Bolton Stadium to go top.
Sheffield United hosted lowly Reading in a 3pm kick-off at Bramall Lane to go second, while West Bromwich Albion, fourth, beat Aston Villa.
We will keep abreast of the reaction while staying on top of any developments while the United players enjoy a weekend off.
Join the LeedsLive team as we bring you the latest from Elland Road.
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Key Events
Signing off
Thanks for following today. Here are three of the day’s most popular stories for you to catch up on.
Graham Potter on Daniel James
The Swansea City boss has been discussing Daniel James after the Wales side defeated Brentford in the FA Cup on Sunday.
“He was ok, wasn’t he?” quipped Potter when asked for his verdict on the winger’s performance. “The ability to sprint repeatedly, it’s as high a level as you’re going to see.
“He’s got lots to work on but he had an end product today and I thought he was sensational.”
He added: “You forget that these things happen in transfer windows where clubs don’t agree a price. You can see why on that performance, the numbers are too low, that’s the reality in my opinion.
“Once that happens he just gets on with being a footballer, he’s been incredible for us and we’re looking forward to working with him for the future.
“I was a full-back myself, so I’d have probably got a yellow or a red myself to be fair.
“I think he’d have been too quick for me. I wouldn’t have been able to get contact on him.
“Of course it’s a concern (numerous challenges on James) but that’s the referee’s job.
“Dan’s courage is incredible, to not only have the ability to do it, but to ride the challenges. He’s a top player.”
Shock supercomputer prediction
Leeds United will be forced to rely on the Championship play-offs to win promotion to the Premier League.
That’s the shock verdict from a ‘supercomputer’ as it predicts the rest of the season.
Norwich City moved back to the top of the league with an impressive 4-0 victory over Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
Sheffield United also kept up the pace with a comfortable 4-0 win against Reading at Bramall Lane while West Bromwich Albion secured a 2-0 victory at Aston Villa.
How the Whites' next six compares with their rivals
We’ve had a look at how the top four’s fixtures all compare over the next six games.
Jansson jet-setting on his break
Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson has spoken about his first love in football after returning to Sweden during the Whites’ 10-day fixture break.
United aren’t in action this weekend, which has allowed Marcelo Bielsa’s squad some much-needed time away from the field as they look to gear up for a season-defining fixture run-in.
The Whites sit third in the Championship following yesterday’s results, with both Norwich City and Sheffield United moving above them after emphatic 4-0 victories.
Farke's message after jumping Leeds
Daniel Farke has put little significance on Norwich City leapfrogging Leeds United to the summit of the Championship after walloping Bolton Wanderers.
The Canaries took full advantage of the Whites’ weekend off by sticking four past the Trotters in a dominant display at University of Bolton Stadium.
In the process the Norfolk outfit went top of the second tier, two points clear of Marcelo Bielsa’s side having played one game more.
Douglas returns to Glasgow
The injured left-back has shared a picture on Instagram of his return to Glasgow while the first-team squad enjoys some time off.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt-2K1yAzCg/
Oduor signs new contract
Clarke Oduor is the second Leeds United prospect to sign a new contract with the club in one weekend after the Robbie Gotts announcement yesterday.
The versatile 19-year-old, unlike Gotts, has made his senior debut for the Whites, appearing as an 87th-minute substitute at Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup last month.
Oduor’s new deal will run until the summer of 2020, but the club does have the option to extend this by a further year should they so wish.
The left-sided player has been a regular fixture in the club’s under-23 side this season under Carlos Corberan, featuring as a winger or full-back.Clarke Oduor is the second Leeds United prospect to sign a new contract with the club in one weekend after the Robbie Gotts announcement yesterday.
Charlie Nicholas weighs in on United promotion tilt
Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas believes the weight of expectation at Leeds United from their own supporters could cost them a return to the Premier League this season.
United slipped to third in the Championship table yesterday after both Norwich City and Sheffield United turned out 4-0 wins over Bolton Wanderers and Reading respectively.
Those results have left Marcelo Bielsa’s men level on points with the Blades and two behind the Canaries, with a game in hand. With United not in action this weekend, the Whites have welcomed a 10-day break before their next fixture against Bolton Wanderers, next Saturday.
Speaking on Sky Sports’s Soccer Saturday, Nicholas explained why this break could be pivotal in the battle for promotion.
United still promotion favourites with the bookies
The twists and turns continued in the Championship on Saturday, as Norwich City and Sheffield United took advantage of Leeds United’s absence by securing comfortable 4-0 victories.
That left Marcelo Bielsa’s squad slipping to third in the standings, with their game in hand to be played against QPR at Loftus Road on 26 February, and the bookies still fancy them as the favourites.
Oddschecker shows Leeds are tipped at 7/4 to win the title this season, ahead of Norwich on 2/1 and Sheffield United on 4/1, while West Brom are the outsiders and find themselves priced at 8/1.
The favourites remain the same in the hunt for promotion, with Leeds at 4/9, Norwich 5/11 and Sheffield United, who according to the bookies will have to settle for a spot in the playoffs, at 13/18.
Outside of that four, Middlesbrough are ranked at 7/2 while Bristol City and Derby County are both priced at 5/1.
Championship winner
Leeds United - 7/4
Norwich City - 2/1
Sheffield United - 4/1
West Brom - 8/1
Middlesbrough - 40/1
To be promoted
Leeds United - 4/9
Norwich City - 5/11
Sheffield United - 13/18
West Brom - 8/5
Middlesbrough - 7/2
Derby County - 5/1
Bristol City - 5/1
Aston Villa - 30/1
Birmingham City 40/1
Sacko plays for Anakagucu
Hadi Sacko played 72 minutes from the start for Ankaragucu in their 0-0 draw with Akhisarspor in Turkey yesterday.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt9LwTPhr4-/
Whites reportedly agree £400k deal for teen
Several newspapers in Scotland are running the same story this morning on Motherwell teenager Stuart McKinstry, who has reportedly agreed to join Leeds United in the summer in a deal which could eventually be worth £400,000.
The Scottish Mail on Sunday, Sunday Mail and The Scottish Sun have all run the report in their editions today.
One report reads: “Motherwell have agreed to sell Fir Park starlet Stuart McKinstry to Leeds in a deal that could net them £400,000.
“The 16-year-old winger has yet to play a first-team game for Well.
“But McKinstry, who has been on the bench for Stephen Robinson’s side, travelled to Yorkshire this week to secure a deal with the Championship promotion-chasers.
“He will be available for Well until the end of the season before heading for Elland Road in the summer. Leeds fought off late interest from Premier League side Southampton to land McKinstry, who netted for Scotland Under-17s against Hungary earlier this month.
“Well are set to receive around £150,000 up front for the youngster, with the fee rising when McKinstry breaks into Marcelo Bielsa’s first team at Elland Road.”
United fans react
Leeds United fans have been reacting to heavy wins for Norwich City and Sheffield United in the Championship on Saturday.
The Canaries and the Blades each beat Bolton Wanderers and Reading respectively 4-0, leapfrogging the Whites in the process.
Fans have been largely split into two camps in responding to today’s events, with worry at the growing goal differences of their rivals or a call for calm and a reminder of United’s game in hand.
Norwich go top
All over in Bolton...
The Canaries have a two-point lead, but the Whites have a game in hand.
All over at Bramall Lane
The Blades now lead the Whites on goal difference. Chris Wilder’s side have played one game more and have a seven-goal lead..
Around the grounds
A selection of images from the three matches we have been following...
Norwich have missed ANOTHER penalty
Awful record for the Canaries from the spot this season...
Baggies in on the act now too
West Brom will be within four points of the Whites as it stands.
Blades matching Norwich
There’s three in South Yorkshire too!
All of this is strengthening their goal difference over the Whites.
