Saturday interview: Great Dane confident United can emerge from depression

ASKED to sum up in one or two words his time at Leeds United, Casper Ankergren takes time to ponder the question.

It is an understandable reaction from a goalkeeper who arrived at Elland Road in January, 2007, when United were embroiled in what would prove to be an ultimately unsuccessful fight for survival in the Championship.

The rollercoaster ride that is life at Leeds United has since seen Ankergren experience one stint in administration, two swingeing points deductions, three managerial changes and a pair of play-off disappointments.

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And that is even before contemplating a season that has seen Simon Grayson's side suffer such a spectacular collapse in form that the club may yet miss out on automatic promotion despite leading League One by eight points at the start of 2010.

So, when Ankergren – who along with Jermaine Beckford, Jonny Howson and Tresor Kandol is one of the constants at Elland Road during the dramas of recent seasons – finally chooses his words to sum up his time in English football it somehow feels like the Dane is guilty of a huge understatement.

"Never boring," is the 30-year-old's response to the Yorkshire Post's question in the canteen at United's Thorp Arch training ground. "Nothing is ever straightforward at Leeds, I have learned that. There are twists and turns all the time and, at times, it can make it hard psychologically because you have to take a lot of knocks.

"This season has been the same. But this is a big club and that is why we all want to be here. You could stay at a smaller club but it would not be as good."

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Ankergren has made 141 appearances since being brought to Elland Road by Dennis Wise in a loan deal that was made permanent only after the club had negotiated a traumatic summer that ended with a 15-points deduction.

As with United, it is fair to describe his own fortunes as being up and down with stints out of the side being interspersed with heroic performances such as those in this season's FA Cup ties against Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Since the turn of the year, Ankergren has arguably been the most impressive performer in Grayson's side. He is the first to admit, however, that his standards slipped during Monday night's 2-0 defeat at home to Millwall and that the last few days have been difficult.

"It has been a depressing week," he says. "Usually, I can switch off but since Millwall, I have not been able to do that.

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"It was a big blow and I was disappointed with myself because I did not play well. It was the same for the team, there were probably only two or three who could look back and think they had done okay.

"When we came into training on Tuesday morning, everyone was very quiet and that was understandable.

"We have been looking at ourselves in terms of 'are we doing the right things?' That can be from how we prepare to whether we eat the right things and go to bed early enough.

"Sometimes, the small things can matter. Hopefully, we have answered those questions and can now turn things round.

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"The positive is we are still in a good position as promotion is in our hands. We do not need to rely on anyone else. But we also have some very difficult games coming up and must work hard.

"None of us can rely on Charlton losing this game or Colchester not winning against someone else. We have to win our games."

Along with concerns over United's faltering promotion challenge, Ankergren is also facing an uncertain future due to his contract having just three months to run and talks are on hold until the promotion race is decided.

He said: "I would like to stay at Leeds but anything can happen so I have to look after my family and see what comes up. I do not want to be in the situation where Leeds turn round and say 'we don't want to give you a new contract' and have nothing else to go to.

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"I can listen to other clubs, though my first priority is Leeds. My daughter goes to a great nursery that she likes and my wife is studying at Leeds University. She has one year left."

Leeds's poor record since the turn of the year – just 15 points have been gleaned from 14 games – means today could see the club fall out of the automatic promotion places for the first time this season.

Admittedly, Millwall must make up an inferior goal difference of seven as well as rub out United's three-point advantage. But, with the Lions hosting rock-bottom Stockport County and Leeds travelling to runaway leaders Norwich, a scenario whereby Grayson's men are sitting third come 5.0pm tonight is not wholly inconceivable.

Despite that, Ankergren is adamant United can hold off the challenge of Millwall and points to his own experience when at Brondby in his native Denmark as grounds for optimism.

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He said: "At Brondby, we had been cruising (in the 2004-05 season) but then hit rock bottom. There was one result that changed everything for us – we beat FC Copenhagen 5-0 at home – and after that we went back to cruising (and won the league).

"I don't know if that will happen for Leeds because it was something we could have said about the recent 4-1 win at Tranmere.

"It did not turn out to be the turning point we hoped. But maybe a good result at Norwich will change everything."

Norwich City v Leeds Utd

Team news: Jermaine Beckford did some light training with the physio staff at Thorp Arch before the squad set off for Norfolk but remains a major doubt with the hamstring strain that ruled United's top scorer out of Monday's defeat to Millwall. Shane Higgs played in a midweek behind-closed-doors friendly after coming through a reserve game the previous week but Patrick Kisnorbo is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles – though the injury was successfully operated on last Wednesday.

Last six games: Norwich City LWWWWD, Leeds United WDDWLL.

Referee: L Probert (Wiltshire).

Last time: Norwich City 2 Leeds United 1; February 3, 2007; Championship.

SkyBet odds: Norwich to win evens; Leeds to win 11-4; Draw 12-5.