Bradley Johnson puts speculation about his future behind him tonight as Leeds United look to tame Hull City’s Tigers at the KC Stadium.
Johnson, who is still refusing to sign a new contract, could move on in the summer but is definitely staying until the end of the season and has mixed memories of his last appearance against Hull.
The former Northampton Town midfielder, who has been in fine form despite his contractual dispute, scored for both sides when United drew 2-2 with Hull at Elland Road in October, his own goal coming just eight minutes from the end.
Manager Simon Grayson said: “We have not received any offers for Bradley that have been acceptable to the football club so he will see the season out with us and then he will assess the situation, and so will we.”
Neil Kilkenny, back from international duty with Australia in the Asian Cup, is in the squad to travel to Hull, though he is inevitably travel weary and Grayson will assess the midfielder’s fitness before deciding whether to include him in the final 18.
Andy O’Brien, who scored his first goal for the club in the drawn game with Hull at Elland Road, missed United’s last game, at Portsmouth on January 22, with a hamstring injury but he trained yesterday and also faces a fitness test.
However, Grayson says he will take no risks with the defender’s fitness.
Club captain Richard Naylor, who is back training with the first team after being out since October with knee trouble, will also travel but is unlikely to play.
Right back Paul Connolly is just one booking away from his second suspension of the season, having collected nine yellow cards so far.
“Some of his bookings have been for mistimed tackles, so he has to stay on his feet and make the right decisions,” said Grayson.
“Bookings are part and parcel of being a defender these days and I expect Paul will get a two-match ban between now and the end of the season.”
United go to Hull as Yorkshire’s top dogs but Grayson insists: “There are a lot of good Yorkshire teams in the Championship and we want to make sure we are still the county’s top dogs at the end of the season.
“Hull have had some good results lately but we will go there with confidence and are looking forward to the challenge.”
Meanwhile, central defender Neill Collins has joined Sheffield United for an undisclosed fee.
Collins, 27, has made 23 appearances this season but the former Preston defender has been left out of the last four matches.
United have cancelled the contract of Leeds-born striker Tom Elliott.
The 21-year-old has spent loan spells at Rotherham, Bury and Macclesfield.
David Gonzalez, Manchester City’s Colombian international goalkeeper, has joined United on loan until the end of the season.
Gonzalez, 28, hasn’t played for City’s first team but he had a wealth of experience before coming to this country.
He will compete with Kasper Schmeichel and Shane Higgs for the number one goalkeeping spot at Elland Road.
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