Tomorrow, 10th-placed Leeds United make a return to league football as the Whites play host to 15th-placed Burton Albion with Garry Monk's side looking for a third consecutive victory in all competitions.

After booking their place in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup with a stunning triumph over Norwich City on Tuesday night, Leeds United return to divisional action at Elland Road tomorrow afternoon with a home fixture that pits them against newly-promoted Burton Albion. United, who progressed into the quarter-final stage of the League Cup on Tuesday for the first time in four years thanks to Ronaldo Vieira’s decisive penalty, go into the match harbouring ambitions of a third consecutive victory in all competitions. This feat, should it be achieved, would most certainly prove a welcome one as it would be symbolic of a superb reclamation of form after second-rate showings against Derby County and Wigan Athletic earlier in the month.

As is always the case in the Sky Bet Championship though, nothing comes to anybody easily. Standing in the way of the aforementioned feat are Burton Albion, a humble, yet industrious side from a meagre, provincial brewing town. Fans of many clubs do not look upon them favourably; often hurling derision in their direction with snide remarks regarding their scarcity of supporters, or apparent lack of 'history' - they’ve only been a league club since 2009.

Whatever your feelings about them are, the underdogs from Staffordshire have confounded their critics thus far under the management of Nigel Clough. The Brewers, as they are colloquially known, sit a respectable 15th in the league table at the time of writing, and they’ve already caused upsets against several reputable sides this season. The most notable of said upsets involved Derby County, who they defeated 1-0 at the 6,912 capacity Pirelli Stadium back in August by virtue of a stooping header from midfielder Jackson Irvine. In their previous outing, Albion claimed another seismic result against Birmingham City at home last Friday, emerging victorious over the Blues thanks to goals from wingers Lloyd Dyer and Jamie Ward in either half. It is abundantly clear then, that they do pose a threat and that they are not a side to be taken lightly.

Although United are expected to record a relatively undemanding victory tomorrow, one would be foolish to suggest that this match is a forgone conclusion - but what are your feelings ahead of the match? Will Leeds hammer a deluge of goals into the net of the East Midlands minnows? Or will they be left rueing the day having laboured to a disappointing draw - or worse? Have your say by leaving a comment!

Team News

Leeds United

There are still a small number of injuries plaguing the Leeds United ranks at present.

Young right-back Lewie Coyle could be out for as many as 12 weeks after being forced off with injury against Norwich City in midweek. In addition, club captain Liam Bridcutt remains sidelined with a fractured foot.

There are silver linings for United however, with attacking midfielder and former Spain international Pablo Hernandez likely to be fit after missing the previous two matches with a dead leg.

There’s also a possibility that winger Stuart Dallas could make a return to action, having missed the last four games with a calf strain sustained whilst on international duty with Northern Ireland earlier in the month.

Head coach Garry Monk is expected to ring the changes once more tomorrow, after making no less than eight alterations to his starting lineup on Tuesday night. Among others, in-form striker Chris Wood and tough-tackling defender Pontus Jansson are expected to receive starts.

Burton Albion

Brewers boss Nigel Clough has a full squad available for selection after striker Stuart Beavon returned to full fitness recently following a bout of illness.

Albion took advantage of this fact in midweek by granting playing minutes to a few of their more sporadic first-teamers in a County Cup tie away to Lye Town.

Defender John Mousinho, along with midfield trio Lee Williamson, Hamza Choudhury and Marcus Harness, will all be chasing recalls to the starting lineup. Loanees Chris O’Grady and Jamie Ward are expected to partner one another in attack.

Probable Lineups

Leeds United (4-2-3-1) - Green; Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Taylor; Phillips, O’Kane; Sacko, Hernandez, Dallas; Wood.

Burton Albion (3-4-1-2) - McLaughlin; Brayford, McFadzean, Turner; Naylor, Palmer, Irvine, Dyer; Akins; Ward, O’Grady.

Media: Leeds United head coach Garry Monk and Burton’s midfield star Jackson Irvine

Leeds boss Garry Monk says that the attention of both himself and his squad is solely on tomorrow’s home match.

The Whites host Nigel Clough’s Brewers for the first time in a competitive meeting, following their promotion from League One in second place last season.

United, who outwitted Norwich in a penalty shootout in the League Cup on Tuesday, were subsequently handed a mouthwatering quarter-final tie away to Liverpool for their endeavour, but the 37-year-old, who lifted the trophy as a player with Swansea in season 2012-13, has eyes only for divisional competition at present.

Speaking to leedsunited.com, Monk said: "I’m not interested in the draw, that is for everyone else to enjoy and our fans can be happy with it.

“I will talk more about that and the group will focus on Liverpool when the game comes, we have four league games before that and an international break.

“We have to be very aware on Saturday, it is very important and a big game for us, the cup has gone now and our only focus is Burton.”

“We are not overlooking Burton one bit, they have been fantastic and Nigel has them playing really well.

“They are a very difficult team to play against, they have good talent as well and some very good individual players who can win games.

“They have had some really good results, we need to be focused and ready and try and pay Burton that respect by trying to put our best performance on again.”

Monk also gave an update on injuries, with Pablo Hernandez and Stuart Dallas back in contention.

“We will continue to monitor Stuart Dallas and see how he is for Saturday,” added Monk.

“Obviously the biggest disappointment on Tuesday night was Lewie Coyle, he has a knee injury which will keep him out for a good few weeks, exactly until when can be difficult to diagnose with knee injuries.

“Tyler Denton has picked up an ankle injury, so he will be also out for a few weeks.

“Pablo is back in training, at a real push he could have been available for Tuesday, but it wasn’t worth risking him.

“For the rest of the squad it is all about recovery and training, to be ready to go again on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Burton Albion’s Australian international Jackson Irvine has admitted that he is anticipating a 'lively' atmosphere when his side make the trip to West Yorkshire tomorrow.

When interviewed by www.burtonalbionfc.co.uk, the midfielder remarked: “We expect Saturday to be hostile but as a player you want it to be lively and exciting. As you saw in the game against Birmingham, once we got through the first fifteen minutes of the game and Lloyd went on a run or two it lifted the atmosphere.

“We don’t let the sizes of the clubs affect us, some of our best performances have been against the bigger teams and away from home. I don’t think we need to change anything from the way we are playing except just taking our chances more especially away from home to gain our first win on the road.

“Friday was a great win and one of the best performances so far. We all came off blowing and puffing, everyone knows this league is played as a high intensity. We have a real blend of experience and boys who are happy to be there.”

The midfielder has said the side have started to notice that teams are changing the way their play to suit the Brewers style. “It is a massive compliment that teams are starting to change their way to try and stop us from playing. A lot of teams have been struggling with the pace and power of Lloyd Dyer and Lucas Akins.

“They have also started to target the midfield three, we know we have depth in midfield and feel in each game so far this season we have had periods where we as a midfield have controlled the game.”

Match Facts

Tomorrow’s match will see the two clubs compete in a competitive fixture against one another for the first time in history.

The sides previously met at the Brewers’ Pirelli Stadium in August 2012 in a pre-season friendly. A solitary goal from striker Luke Varney ensured that Leeds, then managed by current Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock, ran out as 1-0 winners.

The Brewers are still pursuing a first away win in their inaugural Championship campaign, having failed to win in their seven fixtures on the road thus far in 2016-17.

Star Men

Leeds United - Pablo Hernandez, Midfielder - (6.97 WhoScored rating)

Signed on loan from affluent Qatari club Al-Arabi in the summer transfer window, the 31-year-old creative conjuror oozes class whenever he crosses the white line and steps onto the field of play. Hernandez has already scored twice for the Whites and he’s been the instigator of many sweeping moves already thus far. If Leeds are to penetrate what will be a regimented, well-drilled and deep-lying Burton Albion side, Hernandez’s vision and elegance on the ball could well prove pivotal.

Stat Fact: In his 10 Championship appearances for Leeds so far this term, Hernandez has, on average, picked out 2.9 key passes per game, the second-best amount in the entire division - reinforcing claims that he is one of the league’s most vibrant and skilful players.

Burton Albion - Jackson Irvine, Midfielder - (7.31 WhoScored rating)

Signed from Scottish Premiership side Ross County for a measly £330,000 transfer fee back in the summer, Irvine has already established himself as a key figure at the Pirelli Stadium in a short space of time. His runs into the penalty area from deep have been constant throughout the season so far, and they’ve yielded reward too; the Australian international has netted an impressive five goals from midfield, the majority of them headers - highlighting his aerial prowess. The 23-year-old has already bettered the goalscoring record he achieved at Ross County, and although his lack of technical skill, namely passing, may at times cause him difficulty, he presents one of the few threats of note that Burton Albion pose.

Stat Fact: In his 13 Championship appearances so far, Irvine has maintained a shots per game average of 1.5 - 0.1 less than defender Kyle McFadzean; yet Irvine has four more goals to his name than the lumbering centre-back, who has scored once since his move from MK Dons.

Writer's View

After that enthralling cup tie against Norwich City in midweek, we make a swift return to league action with newly-promoted Burton Albion travelling to Elland Road for a three o'clock kick-off tomorrow.

Whilst many supporters belonging to other clubs have felt little more than disdain and stuck-up snobbery toward the Brewers, I happen to take a rather different view. I’m of the opinion that in a game which is becoming increasingly dominated by money, with financial wealth now at its epicentre, what Burton have achieved in recent years is rather remarkable and certainly worthy of recognition. I’ll try my utmost to refrain from appearing condescending with the words that follow these; but for a relatively unknown club from a provincial working class town, more famous for alcoholic drinks than its sporting prowess, to emerge from the depths of the lower leagues and compete at a highly respectable level is a breathtaking feat, especially in the current climate of modern football. Good luck to them, apart from when we do battle with them both at Elland Road tomorrow and their Pirelli Stadium in April of course!

Anyhow, with regard to ourselves, I’m fairly confident that we will secure a third consecutive victory in all competitions tomorrow. Burton are an industrious, workmanlike outfit who have already caused their fair share of upsets in their debut Championship season so far, but I expect Garry Monk to bring some of our more reputable names back into the fold after astutely opting for rotation on Tuesday. Pontus Jansson, Pablo Hernandez, and Chris Wood are all expected to return to the starting lineup and I believe that their quality will shine through.

In a way, the game presents an opportunity for us not only to secure a third straight win in all competitions, but also to right one of last season’s multitude of wrongs. One rather dispiriting deficiency of ours last term was our inability to win the matches that we were widely expected to emerge victorious from (both matches against Charlton, at home to MK Dons), and a win tomorrow against a plucky Brewers outfit would perhaps be representative of improvement in that respect. Come on Leeds!

Prediction - Leeds United 2-0 Burton Albion

Statistics derived from WhoScored.com

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