After seeing their heroic EFL Cup campaign end in austere circumstances with an unfortunate 2-0 defeat away to Liverpool on Tuesday night, Leeds United (5th) make a swift return to divisional competition as they take on recently relegated Aston Villa (11th) at Elland Road (5:30 KO).

Leeds’ defeat to Liverpool on Tuesday was met with credit. Correctly so. Little over a year ago, United would have rolled over and succumbed to a comprehensive defeat. But alas, that was far from the case on Tuesday night. Leeds were decidedly competitive, abrasively combative in the tackle while maintaining a rigid defensive structure and posing a dynamic threat on the periphery. United hassled their opponents diligently and dutifully, and despite eventually conceding decisive goals to Divock Origi and then Ben Woodburn, the side’s performance warranted eulogization as opposed to lamentation.

In their last outing meanwhile, opponents Aston Villa recorded a 3-1 home success over Cardiff City. In spite of Albert Adomah’s 24th minute opener being cancelled out by a clinical Ricky Lambert finish after just four minutes, Steve Bruce’s charges did go on to secure the three points on offer; as Jonathan Kodjia’s 39th minute header and Rudy Gestede’s late penalty steered the Villains to victory. Following the match, Bruce declared that the victory was representative of the “first shoots of recovery”. There is now an onus upon Aston Villa to challenge for, at the very least, a play-off berth, but whether that will eventuate remains to be seen.

A highly close and competitive game is anticipated by many of the ‘experts’ among the assembled media, but on this occasion, their predictions seem plausible. United are seeking a fifth league win in six matches against a Villa side who are unbeaten in seven games.

Team News

Leeds United

Reputable Swedish defender Pontus Jansson is back in contention after being absent from the starting lineup on Tuesday by way of a bout of illness. Republic of Ireland international midfielder Eunan O’Kane is also expected to be available for selection, despite an ongoing groin problem.

Captain Liam Bridcutt and Spanish playmaker Pablo Hernandez though, will again miss out through injury. Bridcutt remains sidelined with a fractured foot, while Hernandez is still plagued by a hamstring injury.

Aston Villa

There will be no Elland Road reunion for Ross McCormack, who will miss out against the club he scored countless goals for courtesy of an ankle injury. Defensive trio Nathan Baker, Ritchie De Laet, and Micah Richards will all additionally miss out, but other than that, there are no other injuries for Steve Bruce to be concerned with.

Probable Lineups

Leeds United (4-2-3-1) - Green; Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Taylor; Vieira, O’Kane; Sacko, Roofe, Doukara; Wood.

Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) - Gollini; Hutton, Chester, Elphick, Amavi; Westwood, Jedinak; Adomah, Grealish, Kodjia; Ayew.

Media: The thoughts of Leeds head coach Garry Monk and Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce

When tending to his obligatory media responsibilities, Garry Monk praised the impact of Steve Bruce’s appointment as Aston Villa manager, while conceding that his side would have to be at their very best to achieve a positive result in tomorrow’s televised clash.

“Aston Villa are a team who are on a good run, Steve Bruce has gone in there and they are starting to push forward now,” remarked Monk.

“I’m sure come the end of May they will be looking to be in and around the promotion places, so it is going to be a tough test for us.

“We have to re-focus quickly from Tuesday night, we need all of our players ready and I know our fans will be there to really push the team on.

“Again we need to concentrate on ourselves, give another really good performance and put our football on the pitch again, because that is what it is going to take to overturn a really good Aston Villa side.

“I have a good group, a group that are eager and focused to do well and we have been consistent with our quality and performances, we need to be at our maximum again on Saturday evening.”

Meanwhile, Aston Villa impresario Steve Bruce gave his views on his side’s impressive form of late.

“There’s nothing like winning,” said Bruce.

“It breeds confidence and brings joy to a lot of people. That’s what we’re in it for.

“No disputing a couple of wins have helped everyone but it’s only the start of it.

“We’ve made small shoots, that’s all it is.

“It’s important to remember that. There’s still a long way to go.

“We’re coming into now what I believe is the critical time, Christmas and January.

“Can we keep the run going? Can we accumulate 15 points like we’ve just done?

“If we do that then we’re going to be there or thereabouts in terms of where we long to be.”

Match Facts

The sides will meet for the first time in league competition since February 2004.

Aston Villa have only lost on one of their last eight league visits to Elland Road - a 3-1 defeat back in May 2003.

Aston Villa have won merely once in their last 27 away league matches - at Reading in Steve Bruce's inaugural away game in charge.

Star Men

Leeds United: Kemar Roofe

The former West Bromwich Albion youth player was a talismanic figure in the colours of Oxford United throughout the entirety of the 2015-16 season, but it has taken Kemar Roofe a little while to adjust to the rigours that Championship football presents. It seems though, that the £3 million acquisition has now acclimatized to his relatively new surroundings, as he has excelled in his last two games functioning as an attacking midfielder. His flair and guile seem tailor-made for the role, and his turn and pass for Souleymane Doukara’s goal against Rotherham United last weekend was symptomatic of an adept attacking influence at this level. A livewire who can often be found surging past defenders with consummate ease, Roofe is expected to make a substantial impact from here on in, after eventually finding his feet in the white of Leeds United. The early comparisons to Max Gradel were not drawn vacuously, and he’ll reinforce this notion with goals and assists aplenty in the years to come.

Fact: Roofe had a hand in no less than 37 goals in the 2015-16 season, scoring on 25 occasions while also laying on a further 12 goals for his teammates. In doing this, Roofe picked up the League Two player of the year award.

Aston Villa: Jonathan Kodjia

The prolific Frenchman enjoyed a fruitful season with Bristol City prior to his high-profile move to Aston Villa back in the summer transfer window, and by scoring no less than seven league goals in the claret and blue of the Villains, he has established himself as a hit with the Villa Park faithful. His speed, coupled with his skilful and direct running with the ball make him a threat to any Championship defence.

Fact: Kodjia scored 19 goals in all competitions for Bristol City last season.

Writer's View

Our performance on Tuesday was commendable. That was a consensus.

Indeed, it is refreshing that on this occasion, the vast majority of the Leeds United fanbase have acknowledged the necessity of maintaining perspective when assessing the Whites’ performances against more opulent opposition. I felt that common sense flew out of the window following the match against Newcastle United, and many were unjustly scathing in the conclusions they drew after the full-time whistle. Football is a game in which the futures of clubs, managers, and players ultimately hinge on results. But a result is not the most efficient way of ascertaining the quality of a team’s performance; as we know all too well from Tuesday’s events, a scoreline can often serve only to deceive. I believe that each and every observer of Leeds United’s fortunes can say, with utter confidence, that performances are currently satisfactory and inevitably positive results will follow should the current level of performance be maintained - if we play anything like we did on Tuesday tomorrow, it is highly probable that we’ll record a victory.

Optimism and to a certain degree, exultation, at our end. But what of opponents Aston Villa? Many commentators in the assembled press earmarked the West Midlands outfit as being sure-fire candidates for automatic promotion, yet at present, they languish in 11th position, having already fired a third manager since the appointment of Tim Sherwood in early 2015. The predictions of the pundits could be deemed plausible when one considers the array of talent that Villa possess, with proven, prolific strikers in Ross McCormack and Jonathan Kodjia, and no-nonsense defenders in James Chester and Tommy Elphick, so why is it that those predictions have proven, thus far, to be imprecise? The answer is simply this; it's Aston Villa we’re discussing. In recent years, overhead Villa Park has sat a thick fog of uncertainty.

Incompetence has long been entrenched within the organisation. Much in the way of currency has been thrown at the problems that have manifested since relegation, but it has been thrown aimlessly. Hurling substantial quantities of cash at an issue is not necessarily a means to resolve it. That isn’t to say that clubs should not outlay any money at all in an attempt to bolster their squads, but instead of haphazardly splurging cash and adopting what I’d label a scattergun transfer policy, clubs should maintain a degree of poise when conducted business. I appreciate that any supporter of Aston Villa who may be briskly viewing this text may vehemently disagree with my perceptions, but I deem my criticism of their transfer policy as being credible; in my view, the signing of Aaron Tshibola (a player with only 12 previous Championship appearances to his name prior to his switch to Villa Park), for a princely sum of five million pounds most certainly constitutes a ‘panic buy’.

Nevertheless, Villa’s fortunes are gradually improving, and they are now, I feel, suitably equipped under the tutelage of the wily old Steve Bruce, to mount a serious challenge for a play-off berth. With that in mind, I predict a closely-fought game tomorrow in our half past five kick-off, but what say you? You can have your say by leaving a comment below.

Prediction: Leeds United 2-0 Aston Villa

Statistics derived from WhoScored.com

Photo: Action Images

Leeds United Polls