Lees back in at Leeds for season opener

The 21-year-old is on course to be passed fit ahead of the opening day of the Championship season after receiving treatment on the groin strain which forced him to miss United’s League Cup win over Shrewsbury Town.

Lees was hurt in the closing stages of Leeds’ final training session before the Shrewsbury tie and his absence forced manager Neil Warnock to move right-back Lee Peltier into the centre of defence to partner Jason Pearce.

United are suffering from a shortage of centre-backs and while Warnock has singled out Peltier and midfielder Rodolph Austin as makeshift options, Patrick Kisnorbo – the victim of a serious knee injury earlier this year – is the only recognised alternative to Lees and Pearce.

But Lees was put through a training session at Thorp Arch on Tuesday and received more treatment at United’s training ground yesterday, putting him in line to return to Warnock’s starting side for Saturday’s televised meeting with Wolves.

Warnock said: “He did some more work yesterday so he should be fine. He’s not someone we can afford to lose because we don’t have many bodies in that area.”

David Norris sustained a knock in last weekend’s win over Shrewsbury but the midfielder, who wore the captain’s armband during the game at Elland Road, will also be fit to line up against Wolves.

But it is not yet clear if El-Hadji Diouf will feature on Saturday with Leeds still to reach an agreement to sign the ex-Liverpool forward to a permanent deal.

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