Leeds United’s players have been warned that if they drop their standards they face being dropped for the glittering FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, January 3 (1pm).
The match will be covered live by ITV 1, United will receive approximately 8,500 tickets and applications will be accepted from 10am tomorrow.
It took a replay and extra time for Simon Grayson’s men to see off Conference side Kettering Town in the second round last night and the manager is keen to ensure his players don’t take their eye off the club’s main objective this season – promotion to the Championship.
Grayson said of the Old Trafford task: “It is a game everybody is looking forward to and we will thoroughly enjoy the day when it comes around.
"We will hopefully do credit to the football club and try to give Manchester United a decent game, but our sole focus now is the league game at Brentford on Saturday.
“Players have to be focussed on their league performances because if they don’t do that, they won’t get to Old Trafford.
"We will go there to give it the best we can. It will be my first time there and a first for a lot of the players. We know it is going to be tough but we will enjoy it and see where it takes us.”
Winger Robert Snodgrass misses the visit to Brentford after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the replay against Kettering, and Grayson is expected to shuffle his pack.
The manager said: “We have a lot of tired minds and bodies after last night’s game.
"We made a lot of changes for the game. We have loan players to come back after missing the cup-tie and some players who have been out injured trained early in the week, so we are getting one or two back.”
Defender Aidan White limped off injured against Kettering with cramp and is expected to recover in time to face Brentford.
*Adult ticket prices for the Manchester United cup-tie are £41-£51, senior citizens £23-£25 and juniors £15.
The FA Cup-tie means United’s Coca-Cola League One game at Tranmere on Saturday, January 2 has been postponed.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here