Warnock aims to bring Mills out of cold storage at Foxes with Leeds United loan deal

The 25-year-old, a £5m signing from Reading, has been frozen out following a fall-out with manager Nigel Pearson.

Despite keeping a clean sheet at Portsmouth, Warnock wants to strengthen a defence that has conceded 48 goals in 33 games and sees Mills as the type of strong character required to provide some defensive steel.

On the hunt for new players, the Leeds chief said: “There are quite a few we are looking at. We are trying to bring two or three in before the weekend if we can.”

Following the departure of loanee Andros Townsend last week and Fabian Delph’s stay at Elland Road not being extended due to the Aston Villa midfielder suffering a season-ending injury, United have freed up part of their wage bill.

That is likely to be cut further today when full-back Adam Smith is expected to return to Spurs after United decided to cut his loan stay short.

Warnock wants to bring at least one new face in before the weekend visit of Southampton when the United manager hopes the fans will turn out in large numbers.

He said: “You look at the fans here, the numbers that travel. We were playing at Portsmouth, miles from anywhere. I am not being disrespectful but it was a nothing game at the end of February and yet it was a full house.

“That is what whets the appetite. I will be disappointed if there are not nearly 30,000 at the game against Southampton next Saturday night.

“I am hoping there will be a 30,000 crowd and I can’t wait for it. That is what you are in football for.

“We are struggling to get in the play-offs. You look at the table and you look at the teams, and there are stronger teams outside the top six than us.

“But in football you never say never. We’ve got great games coming up and other teams won’t want to play us. Southampton, West Ham, Middlesbrough and Hull City – we’ve got an opportunity to pull them back in and catch points up. You’ve got to look at it as nothing ventured, nothing gained.”