The race for promotion in the Championship this season looks set to be one of the closest in recent memory. Despite the automatic places looking all-but sewn up, each team all the way down to 10th has a shot of a place in the play-offs.
With most teams having three games left to play, the gap from sixth to 12th in the second tier is just six points which highlights just how close the battle will be. There are a number of former Leeds United players vying for a Premier League place, the division that the Whites remain desperate to stay in for the third consecutive season.
We have taken a look at each of those players, including the two loanees who have spent this season in the Championship, to assess the part they’ve played in the promotion push of their respective teams.
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Bournemouth – Lewis Cook, Leif Davis and Adam Smith
Bournemouth look set to go one better than last season by securing automatic promotion as they need, at most, nine points from their last five games. Their ex-Leeds representatives have struggled for rhythm this term as both Adam Smith and Lewis Cook have struggled with injuries but they have still been able to play a starring role at times.
Meanwhile, it has been a similar story for loanee Leif Davis who has made just 12 appearances since moving on loan in the summer. Whether or not Bournemouth will be interested in triggering the optional future fee that they agreed with Leeds remains to be seen but he has impressed Scott Parker when available.
Huddersfield Town – Jamal Blackman, Tom Lees
Huddersfield have been one of the Championship’s surprise packages this season as they have all-but secured their play-off place. Their links to former Leeds representatives go beyond the playing staff with Carlos Corberan, the ex-U23s manager at Thorp Arch, at the helm.
As for players, former Whites loan man Jamal Blackman hasn’t had a look in this season after signing midway through the campaign as back-up to Lee Nicholls. Tom Lees on the other hand, who spent five years at Leeds, has been a mainstay in the heart of the Terriers defence with 37 games and three goals to his name this term.
Luton Town – Robert Snodgrass
Along with Huddersfield, Luton have been a real breath of fresh air in the second tier and should have a great shot at playing in the Premier League via the play-offs. Former Leeds favourite Robert Snodgrass has been helping Nathan Jones’ side in recent weeks after making the January switch from West Brom who have fallen drastically out of play-off contention themselves.
He has started in each of their last three games and will be hoping to continue that run into the final few games of the season and, hopefully, the play-offs.
Sheffield United – Billy Sharp
It has been a tough season for Sheffield United in their bid to secure an immediate return to the Premier League. Although, one man who continues to turn up when it matters most is Billy Sharp.
It didn’t quite work out for the 36-year-old at Leeds but he has been brilliant for the Blades ever since. After scoring 14 goals and adding seven assists in his first 38 games of the season, Sharp has been out with a hamstring injury in the last five matches. He, as well as the fans at Bramall Lane, will be desperate to be available for the run-in and possibly the play-offs.
Blackburn Rovers – Bradley Johnson, Ian Poveda
Blackburn are one of the teams hoping to take advantage of any potential Sheffield United slip-ups after, at one stage, it looked as though they might have been good enough to secure automatic promotion. They will be boosted by the return of Ben Brereton-Diaz who has been linked with a summer move to Leeds.
He has played alongside Bradley Johnson at Rovers, someone Whites fans will be hoping can influence the forward if the interest is made concrete at the end of the season. At 34 years old, Johnson’s impact this term has largely been from the bench but the Elland Road League One promotion-winner he has still played a key role every time he has been on the pitch.
Ian Poveda had started to make a real impact for Tony Mowbray's side on loan but suffered a horrendous injury which looked set to prematurely end his season. However, he could return for the final few games of the season in, what would be, a big boost for Blackburn.
Middlesbrough – Sol Bamba, Jonny Howson and Lee Peltier
Former Leeds boss Neil Warnock began the campaign as Middlesbrough manager but was replaced by Chris Wilder back in November. The ex-Blades manager has inspired something of a turnaround and they hold slim hopes of finishing inside the play-offs.
They’ve had the benefit of a trio of former Leeds players, all of whom scored penalties in Boro’s famous FA Cup win against Manchester United earlier in the season. Jonny Howson, much like a fine wine, continues to get better with age and has truly rolled back the years this term. Meanwhile, Lee Peltier and Sol Bamba have had to contend with rotation roles, making 41 league appearances between them.
