Although Leeds are fast running out of strikers, Neil Warnock has asked his team to work hard to make up for the loss of Ross McCormack when they face Hull City tonight.

Ross McCormack’s ankle injury on Saturday is only the latest fitness problem to an already limited squad, and the medical staff hope to be able to take the Scotsman for a scan today to try to assess the full extent of the problem. So far the manager hasn’t managed to arrange any loan deals to plug the gap, so Diouf and Becchio are likely to start tonight’s game as the front two, with Gray and Poleon on the bench, and elsewhere in the team Adam Drury is ‘touch and go’ to be fit for the game.

But instead of being downhearted about McCormack’s absence, Warnock has asked his squad to raise their game. He told the Yorkshire Post “It’s a major blow, but we’ll have to get on with and give it our best shot. The fans will also have to play their part, like they always do. There’s worse things in life. Looking at the plus side, we have some very good players. “We have to conjure up a few more goals, but there’s nothing to be down about.”

Hull were the victims the last time Leeds won at home in the League in midweek, and that was over a year ago! But Warnock knows that it will be difficult for Leeds to break that winless run with another win tonight, as Hull have won three of their opening 5 games in the league, including the last two, and now sit fourth in the table.  “It will be tough. Look at their (Hull’s) team sheet. They are solid, play five at the back and they’re strong everywhere.”

But all three of these wins have been at home, which Steve Bruce acknowledged when he spoke to Hull’s official site.  “We’ve got two away games now though and we’ve got to go and reproduce that kind of performance in front of a big crowd at Leeds. If we can match the standards we’ve set, there is no reason why we can’t go there in a positive mood.”

And just to prove that Leeds really aren’t famous any more, he continued…“Whenever you go to Leeds, you know it’s going to be a tough place to play and they’re one of the big clubs in the country. I’m sure I’ll get a bit of stick, I’m convinced of that going there, and I’ll look forward to it because it should be a good game I’m aware of what our fans want and if we can go there and beat Leeds on their own patch then terrific. To win at Leeds, you have to play well and that will be our challenge.”

Hull have one or two problems of their own, as Paul McKenna is suspended and midfielder Seyi Olofinjana will need a late fitness test on a hamstring injury, with Corry Evans on standby to replace him. Our former defender Alex Bruce should be fit enough for a quick return to Elland Road after recovering from a knee problem, so we can judge whether it was a mistake to get rid of him or whether he only gets a game for Hull because his dad is the manager.

Much as we need a win from this game, with the injury problems we have for this game I’m going to let my head rule my heart and predict a draw.

Photo: Action Images

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