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Leeds United: Loan arranger Grayson ready for testing run
Simon Grayson believes the financial support given to him by Leeds United's board will see the club safely through the Christmas period as he and his players seek to turn the screw on League One.
Grayson will have his full compliment of loan players available for tonight's match against Oldham Athletic after handling the club's FA Cup commitments on Sunday, and United's pro-active dealing in the transfer market last week has reinforced a squad who already hold the whip hand over their division.
Leeds carried a six-point advantage into the second round of the FA Cup – a significant lead underlined by the margin of nine points which separates Grayson's squad from Colchester United in third place – and a late flurry of business at Elland Road on Thursday has strengthened their arm in the run-up to the January transfer window.
Grayson identified three possible signings and was impressed to see Leeds provide the funds and the persistence to recruit all of his targets. In Tony Capaldi, Hogan Ephraim and David Martin, he gained the security he was looking for with the club on the verge of one of the busiest periods of their season.
Leeds will play eight times before the end of this month, starting at Oldham this evening and winding up December at Stockport County three days after Christmas, and Grayson acknowledged the backing given to him by chairman Ken Bates in helping to protect United's strong league position.
Grayson said: "We've been given license to get the cover in to provide the squad with plenty of ammunition over the next few weeks.
"I wanted three targets in before the deadline shut and I got all three that I wanted. I appreciate what the chairman's done.
"He's always backed me on every decision I've made, whether it's bringing players in or out. We've made decisions that are going to help the club over the next six-week period."
Ephraim and Martin were omitted from the squad named at Kettering Town on Sunday with their parent clubs, QPR and Liverpool respectively, unwilling to allow either player to become cup-tied, but Capaldi made an accomplished debut on the left side of defence at Rockingham Road and should make his league debut tonight.
Capaldi stands out as an example of Grayson's insistence on recruiting players who are likely to improve his squad, rather than simply increase the number of players available to him.
The 28-year-old arrived from Cardiff City with a CV showing more than 200 league appearances, the vast majority made in the Championship. He also possesses the experience of 21 international caps won with Northern Ireland and provided a ready-made option for a position in Grayson's team that presently lacks an experienced alternative.
His 90-minute outing in Sunday's FA Cup second-round tie was his first for almost a month, but Grayson was satisfied by the defender's contribution.
"I thought he was very accomplished," said Grayson. "He was good in possession of the ball and lasted for 90 minutes in difficult conditions.
"I was delighted with his debut and I'm sure he'll get better for it."
The role of young Liverpool goalkeeper Martin is likely to be that of a substitute behind Casper Ankergren, but Ephraim was brought in from Loftus Road to provide a new attacking outlet, and he may be cut loose for the first time this evening.
The 21-year-old winger was formerly a trainee with West Ham United before a loan to QPR in 2007 led to a permanent transfer. His time in Rangers' first team has been fleeting this season, but Grayson signed him with the hope of replicating the same impact made by Max Gradel on his arrival from Leicester City in October.
In total, United's manager has recruited seven loanees this season, demonstrating his reluctance to leave injury problems to fester. Capaldi was brought in after Andrew Hughes – for many weeks Leeds' established left-back – injured his groin, and the deal for Martin came with doubts persisting over the fitness of Shane Higgs.
Higgs does not appear to be far away from a return from his thigh strain but, having seen the injury recur on his comeback in October, Grayson admitted he would think carefully before choosing the time of the 32-year-old's latest return.
"Shane's coming along nicely," Grayson said. "But the chances of his thigh going again is 33 per cent. We've got to make sure that he's not going to be in any doubt again as, once the (transfer) window is shut, you're reliant on what you've got.
"If Casper got injured we'd have only had had Alan Martin on our books and, after that, anything could have happened. We've just got to make sure we're covered."
Despite losing Hughes, Richard Naylor and Bradley Johnson to injury in the past month, United's form has barely suffered.
Two league victories since their FA Cup triumph at Oldham on November 7 have kept League One's chasing clubs at bay, and United made good their chance to progress to the semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
A far bigger prize is the FA Cup third-round tie at Manchester United which will fall into Leeds' lap if they win their replay against Kettering at Elland Road a week today but, after banning talk of Liverpool in the lead up to a Carling Cup tie against the Anfield club in September, Grayson will be no more inclined to allow Old Trafford to distract him.
United collected 10 points from a possible 12 after learning of their draw against Liverpool and Grayson's squad have 18 at stake this month, before a potential trip to Manchester United.
"We have to be professional and we can't take our eye off the ball," Grayson said. "We've a lot to do on all fronts."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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