Leeds United v Leicester City: Visiting Leicester offer benchmark to Warnock

United are seeking a second noteworthy scalp in four days after Saturday’s exhilarating victory over previous leaders Crystal Palace, with Nigel Pearson’s third-placed Foxes arriving at Elland Road in form.

The Foxes, blessed with plenty of options across their squad, triumphed 2-0 at Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, following on from a 6-0 hammering of Ipswich.

But Warnock is relishing tonight’s test, while admitting that if 16th-placed United finish above Leicester come May 4, he would expect to be celebrating promotion.

Warnock said: “I think Palace are the best team in the league at the moment and now it is Leicester, who have the best squad in the league.

“I think they will probably finish at the top of the league at the end of the season – they have got a fabulous squad.

“Yes, they have spent a lot of money, but they still have to spend it correctly and he has some really good players. If we could finish above them, we would be automatically promoted.

“We are aware we are going to have to go on a good run at some stage now. The Leicester game will be ever so difficult and then it is Huddersfield on Saturday. But we have got to look forward to the games now and instead of being in trepidation a little bit, we have got to welcome them now.”

Warnock had a ‘good meeting’ with new Leeds United director David Haigh and GFH Capital executive Salem Patel after Saturday’s win over Palace and while transfer plans for January were not specifically discussed, he expressed thanks for the way in which the new owners pushed through the Jerome Thomas deal, which looked unlikely at one point on Thursday morning.

He added: “It was a good meeting. There was nothing constructive about signings or anything, just a general talk. We did not have enough time; we only had about 45 minutes.

“I thanked them for their help with Thomas on Saturday because I know how important he will be for the next five or six weeks. They said they were going to support me and within five minutes, it was done. That is the test.”

Last six games: Leeds WLLLDW, Leicester WWDDLL.

Last time: Leeds United 1 Leicester City 2; April 28, 2012; Championship.

Referee: M Russell (Hertfordshire).