Butland joins Leeds United until the end of the season

Stoke City have agreed a loan deal with Leeds to bring England international goalkeeper Jack Butland to Elland Road for the remainder of the season.

The 20-year-old was a sensation last season, he received Birmingham's Young Player of the Year award and he was selected by Stuart Pearce as the first choice goalkeeper for the 2012 GB Olympic squad.

Leeds manager Brian McDermott said: "We’re delighted to agree a deal to secure the services of Jack until the end of the season. Obviously he has high ambitions. He has already been involved in the England squad and I know he is very much looking forward to coming in and being part of the group we have here."

Goalkeeper Jack Butland.
                                                                                    Picture from www.leedsunited.com

The talented shot-stopper has been down the pecking order for some time at the Britannia stadium. Butland has been playing third-string for the Potters, behind Asmir Begović and Thomas Sørensen, since returning to his parent club from his half-season loan at Barnsley.

Leeds, on the other hand, are in dire need of spare pair of safe hands in West Yorkshire. Paddy Kenny, United's number one keeper, is in need of a break after a 100% appearance record this season. The 35-year-old has been described as "doubtful" for Leeds' Saturday fixture against Middlesbrough, struggling with an ankle injury.

Kenny's understudy, Jamie Ashdown, 33, has been out of action for a long period due to a toe injury that he suffered early in the campaign and it looks as though he won't be back to full fitness until the end of Leeds' season.

United had been linked to third-choice Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes earlier today but a contract offer has failed to materialise with McDermott instead opting for youth over experience.

Reflection during the break: Takeover and team talk

The weekend off is exactly what Leeds United needed as the takeover saga continues.

It's almost comical if you think about the amount of takeover speculation that Elland Road has had in the last couple of years. The long, drawn out talks between Leeds and GFH, that took place more than a year ago, seemed as though they would never end. And when they did finally purchase the club, promises were made that have since been broken and a year on the Leeds are far lower down the Championship table than they hoped to be. 

Current owner of Cagliari, Massimo Cellino.
                                                           Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk.

Similarly, the fiasco on transfer deadline day between prospective owner Massimo Cellino, current owners GFH and manager Brian McDermott, was embarrassing for all parties involved.

For better or worse, Cellino's takeover looks as though it could go ahead - once the Football League have finished turning up every stone around Italian, of course. Twice convicted of fraud and currently contesting an embezzlement charge, the current Cagliari owner may not sound like the man Leeds United need to have in charge at the moment but he's the man they're getting. The 57-year-old has pledged to invest heavily in the club and he does seem to have the cash to splash, which is more than can be said about GFH who accepted a £1.5m loan from Cellino himself in order to pay players' wages this month.

Whatever the outcome, it seems obvious at this point that Leeds United will have a new owner very soon. In terms of football however, it's also a rocky situation. 

After several periods of trial and error it seems that McDermott's favoured formation is going to be the wide 4-4-2 featuring McCormack alongside target-man Matt Smith, whose hold up play and overwhelming strength caused Yeovil problems immediately following his introduction to the game - as it has done against several teams this season.

The formation seems to suit United more than the adapted 3-5-2 did and now the appropriate wide players have been acquired, there should be no need to revert back to the previous system. If anything, the 4-4-2 is at very least the stable option. When playing three at the back Leeds were all too often exposed diagonally and down the channels, which is something that four at the back more or less shuts the door on, so to speak.

New Leeds wide-man Cameron Stewart.
                                                                               Picture from http://www.leedsunited.com/

Jimmy Kébé still seems to be finding his feet since arriving and the fans will need to be patient whilst he settles in. He has shown some flashes of the Reading Kébé of old. The same can be said for his opposite winger Cameron Stewart, who is still learning his trade at 22 years of age but looks as though he could either be a real talent or a complete flop under pressure. Stewart's final ball and decision making are letting him down too often at the moment but he does have two tricky feet which, when coupled with an explosive surge of pace, are gold dust in the Championship. Either way McDermott has put huge stock in both wingers and there are no replacements in the squad capable of playing to their standard, so it's going to be a case of like it or lump it for many fans.

Defence will be the manager's main concern at the moment. With the exception of Jason Pearce, who has had an excellent season all things considered, Leeds are struggling to find an appropriate centre-back to partner him with. 

Tom Lees, 23, has featured alongside Pearce on a number of occasions but the former England U21 international has come under criticism lately for the poor quality of his distribution out from the back. 

Veteran Lithuanian defender Marius Zaliukas seemed to be a steady hand but after two poor performances against Sheffield Wednesday and Rochdale, it looks as though McDermott is going to make the former Heart of Midlothian captain fight for his place in the squad.

Leeds complete the comeback at gusty Yeovil

Leeds United fought back against the weather and recovered from going a goal down to beat Yeovil 2-1.

Strong winds dictated the fixture, making it difficult for both sides as the ball forked in random directions when flighted through the air with any pace.

Leeds captain Ross McCormack celebrating his goal with Matt Smith.
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Leeds were chasing the game after Ishmael Miller thrust Yeovil ahead with a fine header after 32 minutes in Somerset. The same player then failed to double the home side's lead, missing a penalty conceded by Sam Byram just before half time.

United Captain Ross McCormack, who scored a hat-trick in Leeds' 5-1 derby win over Huddersfield last week, levelled for Leeds with a beautifully curled shot from 22-yards out - only a minute after the restart.

Whites' left-back Stephen Warnock stunned Yeovil with his 40-yard free-kick on 62 minutes played, putting Leeds 2-1 ahead. The long-ranged effort was picked up by the wind as the ball sailed through the air and looped over static keeper Marek Stech. 

"What we want to avoid now is drama off the pitch. On the pitch we want drama but if we can avoid that for the last 17 games I'll be very happy." said Leeds manager Brian McDermott after the game.

Under pressure: Leeds manager Brian McDermott.
                                                         Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

A poor first half performance played in equally poor conditions in Somerset suggested that McDermott - who is already under considerable pressure following the botched attempted sacking of him last week by prospective owner Massimo Cellino - had his work cut out for him at half-time. 

But whatever the Leeds boss said in the dressing room during the interval definitely worked, as did his tactical change to 4-4-2.

The manager introduced the big handful that is Matt Smith, who returned after serving his three-match-ban for a harsh red card that he received during United's 6-0 thrashing at Hillsborough almost a month ago.

As the second half ticked on so too did the chances for Leeds. Ross McCormack, Rudolph Austin and Jimmy Kebé all had decent chances - the latter blasting the ball into the car-park with just the goalkeeper to beat.

Accuracy is an area that Leeds need to address if they are to pose a serious play-off challenge this season. They totalled 20 shots but only managed to get five on target - a 25% shot accuracy on the day.

Yeovil's chances dried up considerably in contrast as the game went on. The home side struggled as they played against the same wind that held United back in the first half.

West Ham boss won't pursue Ross

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has told Brian McDermott that he will not submit another offer for Leeds striker Ross McCormack after the club rejected a £3.5m bid from the Hammers on Friday.

McCormack, 27, has attracted interest from several clubs but when the offer arrived from West Ham at the end of last week, Leeds fans were fearing the worst. The forward has been in prolific form this season  netting 17 times, making him the Championship's top scorer.

Leeds United captain Ross McCormack.
                                                                    Picture from http://www.leedsunited.com

Speaking on Leeds United's official website, manager Brian McDermott said:
“The bid for Ross was rejected on Friday and I've have spoken to Sam Allardyce since and he has said that they won’t be coming back in for him,” He added:
“I am confident that he will be here after the window closes on Friday. Ross has never asked to leave. He is my captain and he is a talisman for our team."

The news from the Leeds boss that Sam Allardyce won't reattempt to sign United's captain will be well received at Elland Road as the club are still tangled in a mess of takeover talk.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce won't chase McCormack.
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West Ham on the other hand seem to have money to spend in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League, acquiring the services of striker Marco Borriello from Roma and AC Milan midfielder Antonio Nocerino on loan respectively this week.

The Hammers have struggled to score goals so far in the campaign and it's an area they'll have to rectify if they want to stay up. With strikers Modibo Maïga and Carlton Cole managing just five goals between them this season, Allardyce will have been happy to see the club's record signing Andy Carroll return from injury against Cardiff, even if they can't land McCormack.

Jimmy Kébé joins Leeds

Leeds have completed their second signing in two days after securing Crystal Palace's Jimmy Kébé until the end of the season on loan. 

The Mali international will be linking up with former manager Brian McDermott, the pair previously reached a play-off final and won promotion to the Premier League the following season in 2012. Regular first team football will have been the deciding factor in the 29-year-old's Championship switch to Elland Road. Kébé has grazed the pitch just six times this season despite arriving at Selhurst Park for an undisclosed fee in August but will be shown no such treatment at Elland Road and the pacey winger is likely to be thrown in the mix at Hillsborough, in what will be another fiery Yorkshire derby this weekend with Sheffield Wednesday.

Brian McDermott with his new signing Jimmy Kébé.
                                                                            Picture from http://www.leedsunited.com

“I haven’t come here for a holiday,” said United’s new arrival on the club's official website. “My target here is to play in the Play-Offs, minimum."

Kébé's desire looks to be genuine and that hunger to succeed is exactly what McDermott was looking for when identifying his targets to strengthen his squad - a drive to push forward. With his side currently eighth in the league, the Leeds boss is likely to blood in both of his new wingers - Kébé and yesterday's signing

Cameron Stewart - when Leeds travel to South Yorkshire on Saturday.

Leeds chairman Salah Nooruddin commented on his club's new recruit, telling Sky Sports: "Jimmy Kébé is a player well known to Brian and we're delighted to have agreed a deal both with the player and Crystal Palace."

Leeds sign Cameron Stewart and chase Jimmy Kébé

Following a rocky period over Christmas which saw United draw two and lose two in the league, an exciting opening week of the transfer window is just what was needed.

Leeds rounded off 2013 with a string of tired performances. If fans found two disappointing draws and a loss away at Nottingham hard to swallow, then the 2-0 defeat at Rochdale in the FA Cup will have been heartbreaking. United put on a very poor show at Spotland and the League Two side had no problem dismantling their lacklustre visitors.

Manager Brian McDermott after the defeat at Rochdale.
                                                             Picture from http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk

McDermott's men were made to stay on the pitch and face the wrath of the 3'400 travelling away fans as they voiced their fury. “That’s probably the worst moment I've had in football, or right up there,” said the Leeds boss in a press conference after the match. “I lost a play-off final and it didn't feel like that, right at the end when we went to our supporters. The reaction we got I expected. I knew it was coming and we hold our hands up. It’s going to be a driver for me in the next few weeks. I’ll use it as a complete and utter driver. What can I say apart from apologise for that performance? There’s no-one here who wants to get it right more than me.”

New signing Cameron Stewart.
                                                                 Picture from http://www.leedsunited.com

Strong words from United's manager regarding pushing forward have since been backed up by a speculation-packed opening week of the transfer window. McDermott completed his first acquisition yesterday, in what looks to be a statement of intent, as Leeds confirmed the signing of Hull City's Cameron Stewart. The 22-year-old winger was on loan at Charlton for the first half of the season in the Championship but Leeds fought off competition from the south to secure the youngster's signature on a three-year-deal. Stewart has initially joined on a three month loan, due to FA rules that state a player may not play for three English clubs in a single season (a rule that excludes emergency loan signings) and so the player will officially belong to Leeds in the summer, but can play on loan at Elland Road for the remainder of the campaign.

Leeds' first winter signing addresses an area of the squad that has been weak ever since the club sold promising Ivorian Max Gradel to Ligue 1 side AS Saint-Étienne for £3m in August 2011. The Whites saw talented Scot Robert Snodgrass snatched from Elland Road by Norwich the following year and the two wingers were never adequately replaced. The lack of wide players at Elland Road has been noted by many this season, with McDermott having to switch to a 3-5-2 formation to cope with the void in the squad. To his credit the United manager has made it work and Leeds still sit in eighth place in the league, despite a run of poor form since Christmas.

Cameron Stewart seems to be only the first of a handful of signings that will be sanctioned by Leeds as the takeover looms. Crystal Palace winger Jimmy Kébé - a former Reading player brought in and managed by McDermott - is United's next target. The Mali international, 29, has had limited opportunities so far this season after leaving the Madejski following McDermott's dismissal. Palace chairman Steve Parish was coy over the player's future, telling the Yorkshire Evening Post: “Leeds are interested – all the clubs at the top of the Championship are interested." But Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis said in a press conference on Thursday morning: "Kébé is on his way to Leeds as we talk," and the news will no doubt be music to fans' ears in West Yorkshire.

Crystal Palace winger Jimmy Kébé.
                                                                            Picture from http://www.skysports.com

The former Reading winger's lightning pace is his most noted attribute, regularly giving defenders a nightmare day at the office during his time at the Madejski stadium. This morning it was also revealed that Leeds are involved in the race to sign Brighton striker Ashley Barnes. The 24-year-old Albion forward is out of contract in the summer and despite six goals in 24 appearances thus far in the campaign, Brighton are willing to let him go. Burnley appear to be the strongest competition for Leeds in the battle for Barnes' signature but according to Sky Sports the player may have already completed a medical at Turf Moor.

This latest haul of approaches made by United looks to spell out a new era at Elland Road: Leeds United are no longer a selling club. The faith United's board are showing in their manager is a refreshing change, specially when backed up by a much needed cash injection.

Busy period takes its toll on United

The string of games around Christmas in the English game has been criticised as of late and the FA are under increasing scrutiny to slacken the workload of squads - especially those who are shy of investment.

Leeds manager Brian McDermott.
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Leeds took just two points from three games so far over the busy period and after a disappointing display at Nottingham, United now sit at 7th place in the table. In a press conference with the Yorkshire Evening Post, McDermott took the positives after two difficult back-to-back away games but also highlighted an issue that needs addressing at Elland Road, should United wish to issue a real promotion challenge this season: “My lads have done fantastically well for me and we’re seventh in the league. We've got results and we’re in an okay position. But we know we need to add to what we've got next month.”

And the White's manager has a point. The proposed take-over - led by Leeds managing director Andrew Haigh and Andrew Flowers - will ideally provide much needed investment in order to strengthen a United squad that gave a tired performance against Nottingham Forest.

Nottingham Forest's Matt Derbyshire and Gred Halford 
                                                                            Picture from www1.skysports.com

Leeds struggled to get in the game during the first half at City Ground and looked off the pace for most of the match. Forest did a good job of closing down quickly, restricting possession and pressuring the ball. The home team looked by far the superior side for 90 minutes and an ankle injury sustained by Kenny in the opening minutes of the match did not help matters but he battled on and played through it admirably.

Andy Reid's free-kick found its way to Forest's make-shift striker Greg Halford, who jumped above Zaliukas to force his header past Kenny after 23 minutes. Forest pressed and almost added a second moments after the restart but Reid's attempted chip landed on the roof of the net. Leeds showed some signs of life however, as Luke Murphy fired in a corner that Matt Smith almost got his head to on 33 minutes. Radoslaw Majewski's drive for Nottingham was tipped past the post by Kenny, who was blatantly struggling. Djamal Abdoun's lay-off then looked to be a gift for Jamie Mackie but the Scot put his effort wide of goal.

During the interval Leeds assessed Kenny's ankle injury and allowed him to carry on but it wasn't long before Forest  produced another effort on target, in the form of Abdoun's shot that was saved by the United keeper. Leeds continued to hang on, despite significant pressure from the home side and United introduced American youngster Gboly Ariyibi to make his debut. Nottingham went close again when Reid hit the post with a long range strike but Leeds broke forward and Byrams's effort almost found its way to goal before being cleared by the Forest defence but only as far as Ross McCormack, who didn't need to be asked twice to thrash the ball past the scrambling Forest goalkeeper on 83 minutes played.

The two teams were not on level terms for long as the home side's attacking restart provided substitute Matt Derbyshire with a yard of space and the former Olympiacos man sent a 25 yard missile into the corner of United's goal, sparking an intense argument between Kenny and Leeds captain Rodolph Austin.

Blackpool's Tom Ince.
                                                       Picture from www1.skysports.com

The defeat at Forest was the second away game Leeds played in three days, visiting Blackpool on Boxing day and playing out to a 1-1 draw. The game at Bloomfield Road was another difficult battle for McDermott's men who, after a strong first half culminating in an excellent looping header by Lee Peltier, fizzled out as Tom Ince proceeded to thrust the Tangerines forward. The England under-21 international lashed a shot from distance which took a wicked deflection from Marius Zaliukas and Kenny was unable to adjust. Although an away draw on boxing day at Blackpool would usually be a decent result, it did feel like a loss for Leeds after the Whites dominated for most of the game.

The referee was certainly not on Leeds' side either. When Ross McCormack was pulled down by Kirk Broadfoot after controlling the ball and appearing to be through on goal, the Blackpool defender was only shown a yellow card for his foul on the Scot. In an interview with the YEP, McDermott said: “It’s a certain sending off and when the referee looks back at it he’ll realise that he’s made an error. It’s unfortunate for him and for us." United were given some reprieve on 85 minutes, when the same man was the culprit of a wildly dangerous tackle and referee Scott Mathieson made no mistake this time, showing a straight red card. The man advantage came too late for the Leeds though, who were unable to find a goal late on.

United will host Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road on New Years Day and fatigue will undoubtedly play its part in a fixture that will be integral if Leeds are going to threaten a play-off place this season.