Defensive move for Austin as Leeds run out of options
The Jamaican midfielder is in line to partner Jason Pearce against Sheffield Wednesday after completing a run-out in the centre of defence during an Under-21 game between Leeds and Sheffield United at Bramall Lane yesterday.
A three-match suspension imposed on Tom Lees and an ankle injury sustained by Lee Peltier in Saturday’s defeat to Charlton Athletic have left Leeds desperately short of alternatives, with Patrick Kisnorbo absent on loan at Ipswich Town.
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Hide AdKisnorbo was signed by Ipswich on a half-season deal in January and transfers of that type give parent clubs no right of recall. Ipswich named him on their during a 1-0 win at Derby County last weekend and do not consider the experienced Australian surplus to requirements.
With few options available, caretaker manager Neil Redfearn looks set to pair Austin with Pearce for a Yorkshire derby against Wednesday which has taken on added significance in the wake of Leeds’ prolonged loss of form.
United are without a win in seven games and their current run of four straight defeats has left them at risk of relegation, five points above the Championship’s bottom three.
Austin was used at centre-back in spells during his time at Norwegian side SK Brann - the club who sold him to Leeds for £300,000 last summer - but his short appearance as a substitute in that position following Peltier’s injury at Charlton was his first defensive outing of the season.
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Hide AdHe played 60 minutes in the same role at Bramall Lane yesterday, leaving the field with a tight league fixture goalless. A 90th-minute Jordan Robertson goal condemned Leeds’ Under-21s to a 1-0 defeat.
Redfearn has one alternative to Austin in Ross Killock, the academy product who signed his first professional deal a year ago and agreed a new 12-month contract at the start of this month.
Killock, 18, has not featured at first-team level for Leeds but he spent four months of this season on loan at Alfreton Town, the Blue Square Premier Division club.
On top of the absence of Lees and club captain Peltier on Saturday, United will be without midfielder Michael Brown who incurred a two-match ban by earning his 10th yellow card of the season at Charlton.