Warnock lets Tate go from Leeds as he targets attackers

Tate has returned to his parent club after two months on loan at Elland Road, cutting short a deal which was due to end this weekend and ruling out the option of a move to Leeds for the rest of the season.

The 30-year-old centre-back played 11 times for United after joining the club in November and he was in line to make the final appearance of his short-term loan in a Championship match against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

But Leeds’ progression to the fourth round of the FA Cup, earning them a meeting with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, saw the club and Tate go their separate ways after Warnock excluded him from his matchday squad for last weekend’s win over Bristol City. Warnock said: “He’s been a really big help for us, especially in the games after we first signed him, but I need to think about sorting out the attacking end of the squad before looking at anything else.

“That’s where my priorities lie and I felt it was important to have those players in place before adding to the defence. I don’t think we’re short of good defenders.”

Warnock signed Tate on November 22, the final day of the emergency loan window, and originally planned to keep the 30-year-old for the remainder of the Championship term having extended his stay for a second month at the start of January.

But Tate struggled to maintain his early form and lost his place after a weak performance in Leeds’ 2-0 defeat at Barnsley on January 12. Tom Lees and Lee Peltier were used at centre-back against Bristol City.

Tate’s arrival at Elland Road coincided with successive Championship wins over Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Huddersfield Town – results which dug Leeds out of a pre-takeover crisis – and Warnock said: “He came in at a time when we really needed him.

“I made no secret of the impact he had.

“He improved us and he helped us steady the ship. We’d have had a problem without him but I really have to look at other areas.”

Warnock gave no indication of whether progress in the transfer market was likely before the weekend and again declined to comment on firm suggestions of interest in Norwich City’s Steve Morrison and former Portsmouth forward Aruna Dindane.

Out-of-contract Dindane is understood to have asked to train with Leeds but United are yet to commit to a deal to sign him.

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