Leeds United v Milton Keynes Dons: Beckford pushing for recall after impressing Grayson

The club's 28-goal top scorer has started the last two games on the bench but could return after looking sharp and netting a late penalty in last week's defeat to Gillingham.

Beckford, who won the spotkick that raised hopes of a Leeds fightback at the Priestfield Stadium, is now hoping to earn a recall and Leeds manager Grayson admits it is a big decision.

He said: "Jermaine looks lively and sharp. We are not a one-man team and we dropped him for a reason. But he has responded in the right manner.

"He is like any player, he can't go through the whole season and play well every week. You will always have a dip in form, that is true of every one of our players. Jermaine had that dip in the four or five games before we dropped him but has responded in exactly the right way.

"Hopefully, he can get a lot more goals between now and the end of the season.

"The penalty showed he is a confident player and believes in his ability. It gives me a decision to make."

Beckford's dip in form together with the protracted saga that saw him submit and then withdraw a transfer request in January upset many supporters, who were quick to voice their disapproval once the goals began to dry up.

His demeanour – he often seemed to spend more time haranguing referees for non-existent fouls rather than closing down opposition defenders – also upset the terrace critics.

Grayson said: "Jermaine has had criticism and maybe that has motivated him to do better. Regardless of what happens in the summer, he has been a big part of this club.

"Sometimes criticism from outside of the training ground can make you look at yourself and decide 'I don't like criticism and what I was doing wrong, I will now do right'.

"There seems to be determination within Jermaine."

Luciano Becchio has recovered from the tight calf that saw the Argentinian withdrawn towards the end against Gillingham.

It means he is likely to start, leaving Grayson to decide whether to stick with Max Gradel or bring in Beckford.

The United manager also admits to pondering several other changes in the wake of his team's insipid display in the first half against the Gills.

Grayson, who confirmed Patrick Kisnorbo is likely to be out until October with the ruptured Achilles tendon suffered against Millwall last month, said: "Of course, I am thinking about making changes. But, at the same time, I don't want to make too many radical changes for the sake of it because we need consistency. Having said that, maybe we do go down that road and give an opportunity because one or two didn't do what we wanted them to do last week."