American striker Mike Grella has received a mild rebuke from Leeds manager Simon Grayson for turning down the chance to go out on loan.

Grayson declined to name the club which asked to borrow the United States under-20 international, who joined United in February last year and has not started a first-team game since April 3 this year.

But he said: “Mike had an opportunity to go out on loan and turned it down, which is disappointing.

“He tells me he needs a run of games but when he got the opportunity to go on loan and do that, he didn’t take it. Maybe he is waiting for something else to come along.

“He is entitled to do that but he needs some football so hopefully something will happen in the next few days.

“This week George McCartney joined us on loan from Sunderland. He could have sat back in Sunderland and taken his money but he wants to play.

“I dropped down the leagues to play football myself and it is beneficial. If Mike feels the situation is not quite right for him to go out on loan at the present time, I respect that.

“But he will have to keep working hard to get back into my first-team plans unless something else comes up which suits him.”

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland international left back McCartney may be asked to stay at Elland Road if his month’s loan goes well.

Grayson explained: “He is part of our squad for the next month and whatever happens after that, we will have to wait and see.

“The player is on a lot of money at Sunderland, so that could play a part. But when we spoke to George about coming to us on loan, he couldn’t wait to get here.”

Long-standing absentee left back Ben Parker has been training with the juniors to build up his fitness and is due to have a 45-minute run-out in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Thorp Arch on Tuesday.

Grayson estimates that Parker is “three weeks to a month away from being considered for the first team, if all goes according to plan”.