Leeds two goal hero Max Gradel believes the side can finish near the top if they keep doing the things they are doing at the moment but is trying to stay grounded.
Gradel is in fine personal form and scored both goals on Saturday as Leeds moved into second place with a 2-0 win over league leaders Queens Park Rangers.
The 23 year old has now scored six times in Leeds last nine games since getting a regular starting place in the side and as helped the side remain unbeaten during this period.
Gradel is trying not to get too carried away though with Leeds rise up the table and into the automatic promotion places.
Speaking on the official website, Gradel said, ‘The main thing is keeping our focus. We don’t want to listen to what people say, even though it’s nice. We just need to keep our focus.
‘It was a great team performance, everyone is working hard for each other and I was really pleased for everybody. “
The midfielder has turned things around for himself this season after almost becoming the villain of the piece when he was sent off in Leeds crucial final game of the season.
Gradel received a three-match ban for violent conduct and an extra game ban for his conduct after refusing to leave the pitch.
The suspension forced him to miss the start of the season as Leeds started life in the Championship.
His struggled with his form when he got into the side and spent a spell on the bench until Grayson decided to change tactics ahead of the Scunthorpe game.
Gradel made his first start in five games and he rewarded his manager`s faith when he opened the scoring inside the opening ten minutes.
He hasn`t looked back since and also earned his first international call up for the Ivory Coast last month for their friendly in Poland, although he played no part in the game.
Despite wanting to keep his feet on the ground, he can see Leeds continuing with their recent good form and staying near the top of the table, ‘If we keep working hard and believing in ourselves, we can finish up there. We’ve got a big squad and we’re looking forward to our Christmas games now,’ he continued.
Gradel will be going back to his former club in Leeds next game when they travel to Leicester City on Boxing Day.
Although no longer the manager of the club, his former manager Nigel Pearson claimed that he wasn`t good enough for the Championship when he allowed him to join Leeds last season, initially on loan before signing on a full time basis in January.
Gradel has now made fifty-three appearances for the club with almost half of these coming of the bench and he`s scored eleven goals.
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