Leeds United: Mac hails Brown and Pugh as top professionals

The experienced duo came in from the cold in place of the injured duo Alex Mowatt and Stephen Warnock for the clash against Charlton Athletic and each did their cause no harm at all with solid performances in the 4-2 victory at the Valley.

It was veteran Brown’s first start in the league this season, while for Pugh, the game represented his first action for United since coming on as a sub in the loss at Burnley on November 6 last year.

McDermott was delighted with the performances of both, alongside their attitude throughout the season so far and he insists that they remain part of his plans at United.

Both are preparing along with the rest of their colleagues at Thorp Arch for the return to action at home to Middlesbrough on Saturday, with top-scorer Ross McCormack hopeful of being fit for the clash after withdrawing from the Scotland squad yesterday due to a tight hamstring.

On the squad ethic, McDermott said: “I am not just saying it to pay lip service, but we believe everybody here is very important and no-one is out of the reckoning.

“The fact that Browny and Pughy came in and did so well at Charlton is a great example of that. They were both terrific.

“I see these guys day in and day out and see what they can do in terms of the training they do with Nigel (Gibbs). What they have done is top-drawer and they really are top, top professionals and they have shown that.

“You need that camaraderie between everybody and you want the substitutes to be wanting the lads to do well on the pitch and the ones who are not in the squad to as well.

“In that way, Everybody benefits and I don’t know any other way of doing things, to be honest.”

Meanwhile, McCormack, with six goals in his last two matches, has revealed he is confident of being fit for Saturday’s clash with Boro, who were desperate to sign him before the summer transfer deadline and saw three big-money bids rejected by Leeds.

The Scot admits he ‘can’t wait’ to face the Teessiders after posting a tweet shortly after his withdrawal for the Scotland squad for tonight’s friendly clash against Norway in Molde was confirmed.

McCormack tweeted: ‘’Heading back to Leeds having had to pull out the scotland squad. Typical!!

‘’Just need another 24 hours for this to settle. I’ll be fit for Boro 100%. And can’t wait for it.’’

McDermott’s players were given a few days off last week to recharge their batteries ahead of a gruelling schedule to the first weekend in January.

And while some may venture the break has come at a bad time, given the 4-2 victory at Charlton last time out, McDermott is remaining philosophical.

He added: “I don’t know if it’s a good time or a bad time, to be honest.

“It was a good time when we lost before the last international break as we had time to work on the new system we had.

“This one has enabled the lads to refresh their batteries and go again for the Middlesbrough game. We have a lot of games coming up.”

Paul Green, who came on as a late sub in Ireland’s friendly win over Latvia in Dublin on Friday, is part of the squad for their friendly in Poland this evening.

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