Birmingham City v Leeds United: Taylor back but Denton ruled out

Denton has not featured for Leeds since starting in the 1-0 loss at Sutton United in the FA Cup fourth round in January but signed a new three-year deal in the summer.

But the 21-year-old is now set to miss the next four to six weeks and is joined on the sidelines by right back Lewie Coyle who remains injured with a foot injury.

Taylor, though, is back in contention to feature for Leeds after being sidelined since injuring his Achilles in the second half of the Championship clash at home to Brentford on December 17.

After impressing upon his return to full training, the defender is now in the running to feature for United in Friday night’s Championship clash at Birmingham City.

Whites head coach Garry Monk said: “Coyley still has that injury and the only other one is that Tyler Denton picked up a knee injury during the week which is really unfortunate.

“He’s had to have an operation on his knee but it’s not a long period that he will be out for.

“We are hoping it’s probably four to six weeks that he will be out for and considering injuries nowadays that is quite a quick recovery.

“We’re disappointed for Tyler, he has been doing very well this season.

“We have brought him into the first team squad and we have been developing him but he knows he is very young and early in his career.

“He’s developing well and nicely underneath.

“it’s always disappointed to have players injured and him and Coyley have been great - they have been developing nicely with the squad.

“But it’s just those two and everyone else is fully fit.”

Asked if there was a chance that Taylor could feature against Birmingham, Monk revealed: “He’s come back, he is training very well, along with the rest of the group.

“Fitness-wise, he’s lucky that he’s very naturally fit but he still works incredibly hard.

“He’s back in, he’s competing and whether I feel he is ready for this game or the next game - the clear thing for me is that he will be needed at some point in the future.

“His job is to be ready which he knows - like all the other players.

“The group are working very well together and whoever is called in to come into the team at any particular moment knows they have to be ready and ready to contribute which I am sure they will.”