The Republic of Ireland midfielder has been lined up for a "chunky" run-out by reserve-team coach Neil Thompson this evening, four days after his first league appearance for almost three months.

Douglas was fielded as a substitute for the final eight minutes of Saturday's 2-0 victory over Walsall, and his involvement against Lincoln City's second string tonight will strengthen his claim for a place in McAllister's first 11.

The 26-year-old has overcome serious knee ligament damage which at first looked likely to end his season, and he completed 90 minutes of last week's reserve match against Sheffield Wednesday, helping Leeds to earn a 2-2 draw.

McAllister surrounded Douglas with an experienced set of players at Stocksbridge and has done so again tonight, with Paul Huntington, Peter Sweeney, Anthony Elding and Sebastien Carole all included in Thompson's starting line-up.

Thompson said: "Jonathan's looking to get a bit more game-time under his belt, and he seemed to enjoy last week's match. I think he's itching to have some more of that.

"There's a strong team around him again tonight and he'll get another chunky run-out."

Douglas' recovery from the knee injury suffered at Walsall before Christmas has been completed ahead of schedule and without any set-backs, and he is expected to figure prominently in United's League One run-in.

Tonight's match is another opportunity for the midfielder to push himself towards a place in McAllister's starting side after the Leeds boss warned that his current midfield of Neil Kilkenny, David Prutton, Jonathan Howson and Bradley Johnson were performing well enough to justify continued selection.

McAllister said: "The four who are in possession at the moment are going to be hard to shift if they keep this form going."

Douglas will play in a midfield tonight which could also include winger Sebastian Sorsa, the Finnish winger who was expected to be absent from Elland Road on international duty this week.

Sorsa was named by Finland in their initial squad to play Bulgaria this evening, and his selection – along with international call-ups both Tresor Kandol and Lubomir Michalik – saw Leeds request the postponement of their league clash with Huddersfield Town, which was due to be played last night but will now be fulfilled on April 15.

The former HJK Helsinki winger, however, looks set to figure in tonight's reserve fixture after being omitted from Finland's final pool for their friendly in Sofia.

Leeds have confirmed that the postponement of their game at Huddersfield was ratified before the announcement of Sorsa's belated omission from the Finnish squad.

Young midfielder Fabian Delph, meanwhile, has been included in Thompson's starting line-up and is expected to play at Elland Road despite appearing as a substitute in England Under-19s' 3-1 victory over Russia in Milton Keynes last night.

This evening's match kicks off at 7pm.

United (v Lincoln City): Martin, Gardner, Wilkinson, Huntington, Darville, Sorsa, Douglas, Delph, Sweeney, Elding, Carole.