Leeds United are back in the top two of the Championship as Sheffield United failed to beat their city rivals on Monday, but Dean Ashton does not place the Whites as favourites to go up – yet.
Speaking to Football League World, the EFL on Quest pundit shared his thoughts on our chances to secure a top-flight return in the wake of our resounding win over West Bromwich Albion.
The Baggies are a promotion contender, but will more likely now have to settle for the Play-Offs after slipping to a seven-point deficit having become the latest side to leave Elland Road empty-handed.
Having Kemar Roofe away from the first-team for the next few weeks and how soon he can recover his form, however, is one of the things that Ashton expects will hold us back in our efforts to ditch the Championship and finally return to the big time.
Our upcoming ties with fellow-contenders Bristol City and then the Blades must, therefore, be utilised to show our ruthless side that will put any doubt to rest and prove Marcelo Bielsa has built a promotion-worthy squad.
“I wouldn’t say they are favourites for the top two just yet because Sheffield United and Norwich haven’t shown any particular weaknesses,” Ashton claims. “But you feel as though those three are going to be hard to stop for those below them.
“I felt the [West Brom] win showed Leeds’ fitness levels and answered some of the questions about Bielsa’s training regime because they were excellent.
“He named the same side as the one that lost to QPR as well and I think sometimes that is the right tactic to use because it puts the pressure back on the players and asks them to go out in front of your own fans and put on a performance.
“The only worry I would have for them at the moment is that Kemar Roofe is out with injury. He was out of form before getting sidelined and that is a worry. Norwich have Teemu Pukki and Sheffield United have Billy Sharp and their goals can be hard to keep with.”