Left back Ben Parker says his spell on loan at Bradford last season gave him the experience he needed to chase a regular first-team place at Leeds.

Pontefract-born Parker, 20, formed a promising partnership with new signing Peter Sweeney on the United left in Monday night's win at Crewe.

Now he is looking to cement his place with another impressive display in the Yorkshire derby against fellow promotion chasers Doncaster at Elland Road on Saturday.

Parker said: "Going to Bradford was a massive help. You can't buy the experience of playing so much first-team football for love nor money.

"I think I played about 40 games for Bradford in front of crowds of about eight or nine thousand and it stood me in good stead for this season, which is a big one for me.

"David Wetherall helped me a lot with good advice, based on his vast experience, and it's good to see he is still going strong. If you were having a bad time he would put an arm round you and have a word.

"There were other experienced pros like Dean Windass who helped me as well, though Dean has since moved on of course."

Parker added: "If our fans turn out in their droves on Saturday I am sure Doncaster will go into their shells. They won't fancy it at all. Our crowd is our 12th man at times.

"Forest and Swansea are going well above us and I know they have games in hand but they also have to play each other. If we gather as many points in the second half of the season as we did in the first I am sure we will be there or thereabouts.

"I was left out after the defeat at Cheltenham and got a bit of a kick up the backside from the gaffer (Dennis Wise), which I needed at the right time. Now he has shown me a bit of faith and I need to repay it."

Neil Sullivan returns to Elland Road for the first time since being released by Wise at the end of last season and the United chief knows the 37-year-old goalkeeper will have something to prove.

Wise said: "I let Sully go because I didn't believe he was good enough for this football club but it is all about opinions. He will want to prove something to everyone on Saturday.

"He enjoyed his time here but he wanted to prolong his career and he did. Good luck to him. I wished him all the best when he left.

"I never had too much of a problem with him, unfortunately he just felt he was capable of playing in goal for us and I didn't."

Wise believes this weekend's derby will call for strong refereeing and said: "It is an important game with a big crowd, so we need officials who are strong and fair. Since I spat my dummy out they have sent us some good refs."

Winger Filipe Da Costa has returned from Falkirk and Wise is now looking to loan him out to another club to gain experience.

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