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Leeds United expect tough Shelbourne challenge
Gary McAllister developed strong affection for Tolka Park in the days of Howard Wilkinson's reign at Leeds United, and he anticipates a high-octane finish to the club's pre-season tour in the Dublin stadium tonight.
Shelbourne were favoured opponents of Wilkinson's whenever he came to plan for pre-season at Elland Road, and McAllister has followed a habit of his former manager by involving the eircom first division club in the last game of United's Irish tour.
Leeds United take Argentinian striker on trial: Click here for full story.
Leeds will finish their three-match excursion across Eire with a perfect record if they achieve a third successive victory this evening but, having beaten two Premier Division sides in Galway United and Bray Wanderers, McAllister suspects that the most intense opposition might come from the league below.
Shelbourne lie second in the first division and would have snatched first place last Friday had leaders Dundalk not held them to a goalless draw, and United's squad will again be asked to test themselves against a team in prime condition and entering the closing third of the Republic of Ireland's season.
Tolka Park's location in the northern reaches of Dublin should attract a large crowd this evening, mixing Shelbourne's supporters with Leeds' Irish following and travelling fans, and a third competitive game would allow McAllister to head home to England tomorrow with a sense of satisfaction at the end of United's tour.
"Over the years there have always been good crowds whenever Leeds play Shelbourne," McAllister said.
"Howard (Wilkinson) used to bring us over here when I was a player, and back then Shelbourne were riding high in the Irish league. You were guaranteed a good atmosphere and a hard work-out.
"The club are in a lower division now, and lower down the league than Galway and Bray, but I've got a feeling that we'll get the biggest crowd of the tour tonight, and maybe the biggest test. They're having a very good season and we should get another worthwhile game.
"So far we've got everything we wanted out of this tour and it's helped us that the teams we've played are in the middle of their seasons. As far as our fitness goes, we're further ahead than I expected us to be."
In spite of his players' collective condition, McAllister's team selection tonight is likely to be influenced by "a couple of niggles" affecting a handful of members of United's squad.
But he has already achieved his aim of handing every senior player a 60-minute appearance in Ireland, and only Anthony Elding and Tresor Kandol have yet to feature in any of the club's friendlies to date. Both players missed the tour to Eire through illness and did not play in last night's reserve match between Leeds and Farsley Celtic.
McAllister rotated his squad after Jermaine Beckford's brace set up a 2-0 victory over Galway United at Terryland Park seven days ago, and the team fielded at Bray Wanderers on Sunday fought back from a 2-0 deficit to claim a 3-2 success and extend the club's winning record in Eire.
Marcus Haber, United's Canadian trialist, scored the club's second goal against Bray, and tonight's match against Shelbourne will be his final opportunity to convince McAllister to either extend his audition or offer him a contract at Elland Road.
The Leeds boss could involve another trialist striker – Argentinian and former Barcelona player Luciano Becchio – in this evening's game, but Haber's future will be the key decision facing him after full-time at Tolka Park.
His search for new strikers has continued quietly since Leeds landed Enoch Showunmi from Bristol City, and their approach for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jay Bothroyd has so far come to nothing, despite Wolves accepting United's offer.
McAllister said: "We're still working hard to bring people in but the main thing for me is that I'm pleased with how hard the squad have worked in Ireland. I'm happy with the competition I've got in most positions.
"All of the guys know that there are other players – good players – competing for their positions, and this is where they have to show me how much they want it.
"The first task was to build up the squad's fitness, and we're still working on that, but we're now looking for them to step up and put themselves in contention.
"It's always the case that players earn their places on merit. It really is as simple as that. Anyone who shows to me that they deserve to be in the team will get their chance, and all you can ask of them is 'who wants the shirts?'"
McAllister's squad has remained largely unaltered since the League One play-off final in May, but the make-up of his party is vastly different from the United team which beat Shelbourne 2-0 in Dublin last summer.
Of the 21 players fielded by Dennis Wise at Tolka Park 12 months ago, only six have made the journey to Eire with McAllister – David Prutton was one of the scorers in the 2-0 success – and United's preparation has been altogether more orderly than their insolvent and uncertain summer in 2007.
Shelbourne, however, will not be easily brushed aside this evening.
The club were beaten at home for the first time this season by Limerick on July 11, and Millwall – a club who Leeds have been virtually shadowing in Eire – were held to a 1-1 draw at Tolka Park last week.
Shelbourne are as unlikely to lie down in face of Leeds as they are when Celtic visit Dublin for a friendly in a week's time.
"Another tough game would suit us," said McAllister.
"We've got a couple of niggles at the moment and that will probably affect my thinking as far as my team's concerned, but it's good for the players to feel that they're stepping up their work-rate game by game.
"The beauty of this tour in Ireland is that we've had a real opportunity to come together as a squad and get into our stride.
"Our preparation for the season's not finished by any means but we're well on target."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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