League One - Team news: Beckford facing late test

Eurosport - Sun, 12 Apr 12:57:00 2009

Table-topping Leicester host fellow promotion-chasers Leeds who are sweating on the fitness of striker Jermaine Beckford ahead of the clash at the Walkers Stadium.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 League One - Jermaine Beckford, Leeds United - 0

Leeds manager Simon Grayson will continue to assess the fitness of injured duo Beckford and Sam Sodje.

Top scorer Beckford (thigh) and on-loan defender Sodje (leg) missed the games against Leyton Orient and Stockport but the club are refusing to rule out possible returns.

Defender Lubomir Michalik and midfielders Andy Hughes and Andy Robinson are amongst those who will be hoping to be recalled to the starting line up.

But midfield starlet Fabian Delph is available to play once again as his two-match ban for 10 yellow cards this season does not kick in until after this match.

Leeds' win against Stockport on Saturday was their ninth successive victory at Elland Road and equalled a 19-year-old record set by Howard Wilkinson's promotion-winning side of 1989/90

Kerrea Gilbert could come back into the reckoning for Leicester ahead of Leeds' visit to the Walkers Stadium.

The on-loan Arsenal full-back missed the victory at Hereford with the injury that forced him off at half-time against Carlisle.

Manager Nigel Pearson could opt to freshen up his side for the Foxes' second game in only three days.

Defender Patrick Kisnorbo, who has recently returned to the first-team squad after a lengthy absence through injury, and midfielders Max Gradel and Astrit Ajdarevic offer options to Pearson.

The League One leaders are expected to stick with their strikeforce of Matty Fryatt and Steve Howard - a partnership that has plundered 42 goals this season - so Paul Dickov should continue on the bench.

A victory for the Foxes in the lunchtime kick-off will put them on the brink of promotion - and their instant return to the Championship could then be confirmed later in the afternoon if MK Dons fail to beat Bristol Rovers.

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SportingLife / Eurosport

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  1. leeds to win 4v1 !!!!!!!!

    From not_bad247, on Mon 13 Apr 11:12AM

  2. MARCHING ON TOGETHER WE ARE GUNNA C U WIN NA NA NA NA­ WE R SO PROUD WE R SHOUTING OUT LOUD WE LOVE U LEEDS­ LEEDS LEEDS. 3-0 TO THE MIGHTY WHITES

    From rusty.vernon, on Mon 13 Apr 9:49AM

  3. leeds 2 - 0 ........ leeds are going championship this­ year :)

    From nathan.linge, on Sun 12 Apr 11:53PM

  4. Leicester to be promoted. 3-1

    From dan, on Sun 12 Apr 11:29PM

  5. beckford is a legend?NOT! he is a good striker in the­ 3rd division. legends are king billy,eddie­ gray,lorimer,hunter,charlton,giles,reaney,harvey,sniffe­ r,madeley,jonesy,mcallister,vinny,chapmen and of course­ giant john charles and the don. if beckford gets us up­ and scores 35 goals in the championship to get back to­ the premier greed league then he may become a legeng­ and not before. ROLF.

    From TOMMY GUN 4U, on Sun 12 Apr 10:36PM

  6. leeds to win 2__0

    From COLIN, on Sun 12 Apr 7:52PM

  7. so is Matty Fryatt

    From ginge.dulai, on Sun 12 Apr 4:44PM

  8. beckford is a legend

    From Mike, on Sun 12 Apr 3:49PM
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