Here are the latest Leeds United morning headlines on Monday, April 25.
Vieira on Marsch rivalry
Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has insisted there is no rivalry with Leeds United’s Jesse Marsch as the two managers prepare to go head-to-head in the Premier League for the first time. The two both spent time in charge at each of the New York sides in the MLS at the same time, where tensions between the two occasionally boiled over on the touchline.
With the two then going off elsewhere to manage in Europe, they will now meet for the first time since their days in America. However, speaking in his pre-match press conference, Vieira dismissed any claims of a rivalry between the two and instead praised him for his rise in management.
He said: “It was the atmosphere around those games and the fans, but there was nothing really like a rivalry between Jesse and myself. It is difficult for me to talk about him (personally).
READ MORE: Full Leeds United squad revealed ahead for Crystal Palace trip with Kalvin Phillips set to start
“But as a manager, look at what he has achieved at Red Bulls, I think he did a fantastic job there. He is a manager who deserves respect and credit for what he achieved and for what he has been doing to get where he is now.”
Poveda to return
On-loan Leeds United midfielder Ian Poveda is close to making his long-awaited return to competitive action. Poveda, who joined Blackburn Rovers in the summer, has not played since November, when he sustained a fracture and ligament damage to his ankle.
Current Blackburn boss Tony Mowbray confirmed the news that Poveda is likely to make the bench for Rovers' Monday night clash away at Preston North End. He said that: "Poveda looks fit to me, he looks electric on the training ground. There is a fair chance he will be on the bench."
Read more here.
Five things
Leeds United finally return to Premier League action after a 16-day break with a trip to Crystal Palace this evening. The Whites will be looking to stretch their unbeaten run to five matches and pull seven points clear of the bottom three.
The state of play in the battle to beat the drop looks an awful lot tighter since Leeds last played, with Burnley having picked up seven points from their last nine available. Leeds will be looking for a fourth win in five to ease their relegation worries.
Our man Beren Cross has chosen five things to look out for in tonight’s game – so have a read here.
