Leeds United: Bamba is back in business for Whites

The centre-back was among the pick of United’s players in a 1-1 draw with Fulham, reasserting himself after a lengthy spell of sporadic involvement.

Bamba lost his place before Christmas as a fractured toe allowed Liam Cooper and Giuseppe Bellusci to nail down places in the centre of Steve Evans’ defence.

A minor injury to Cooper allowed Bamba to start last weekend’s FA Cup defeat at Watford, however, and a two-match ban incurred by Bellusci saw him retain his place against Fulham.

Bamba and Cooper will start again at Brighton on Monday as Bellusci serves out his suspension.

“The captain has proven a point, which he tends to do,” Evans said. “He’s not a player who sulks and he’s not a player who goes about with an attitude problem. He manages the dressing room in a really professional way.

“I thought he was good at Watford as well. When he got a chance on Saturday I said ‘go and have a good performance.’ You only need to ask Troy Deeney if he had a good performance. It was good to see.”