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Lonergan returns while Grayson tells Leeds to pull their socks up
Lonergan returns while Grayson tells Leeds to pull their socks up
Friday, 16th Dec 2011 18:10 by Tim Whelan

Andy Lonergan is back in goal for Leeds to face Reading tomorrow, and after the disappointing game at Watford last week Simon Grayson is looking for a much improved performance from his team.

Lonergan returned to the bench at Watford last weekend, and tomorrow will see him back in the side for the first time since the Doncaster game in October. Grayson told the official site “Lonners is 100 per cent fit and available to play," confirmed the boss. He's had some good training sessions, he's played in the reserves and if I'd have selected him last weekend at Watford he would have been fit to play.

Alex McCarthy is unable to play against his parent club, but Leeds have extended his loan deal for another month, which may be a precaution against Lonergan breaking down again, given that we have also brought Maik Taylor to the club. But Reading manager Brian McDermott has ruled out any chance of Leeds being able to sign McCarthy on a permanent basis. “Alex is playing for them on loan at the moment but that’s all, though It’s worked for both them and most importantly for Alex.”

Meanwhile, Grayson has been telling his players that the performance at Vicarage Road last week wasn’t good enough. "We didn't do certain things well last weekend, but Watford deserve credit for how they played. But we're back at home on Saturday and we need to be on the front foot and we need a good tempo to the game. We'll have the crowd behind us and we will be looking to make a positive start and take the game to them."

Reading seem to have become slow starters in the past couple of seasons. Last time a strong run of results in the second half of the season took them from a mid-table position to finish in the play-offs, and once again they have had to recover from a disappointing start. They are currently in tenth place, but they must have drawn some confidence from winning four of their last six games.

Grayson was certainly keen to pay them due respect. “They had a great result last weekend [against West Ham] said the Leeds boss.  They have the nucleus of the team which reached the Play-Off final and they have some real quality in there with the likes of Kebe and McAnuff. They've got some experience, they are organised, and they are a good side. But, as I always say, I believe we can cause any team problems on our day."

In fact, the aforementioned Jimmy Kebe is a major doubt for the game after suffered a leg injury in against West Ham. Presumably that was the injury he suffered when he started ‘showboating’ by stopping to pull his socks up with the ball at his feet, which caused Jack Collison to react by kicking Kebe and getting himself sent off in the process. Some people thought Kebe was guilty of showing a lack of respect to the opposition, but I thought it was absolutely hilarious.

Reading’s Goalkeeper Adam Federici and striker Noel Hunt also suffered knocks in the same game, but both are expected to recover in time for tomorrow’s game. Leeds have no new injury worries, but hopefully Grayson will recall McCormack to the starting line-up, as Becchio and Keogh are too similar to work effectively as a partnership.

It’s bound to be a close game tomorrow, but I’m tipping Leeds to scrape a victory by the odd goal.

Photo: Action Images



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