Leeds United loanee Izzy Brown to step up return against Sheffield United

Brown has been lined up for a 90-minute outing against Sheffield United at Stocksbridge Park and a successful game in South Yorkshire would put the on-loan Chelsea midfielder in first-team contention.

The 21-year-old is nearing the end of his recovery from the ACL operation which has sidelined him for most of this year and he came through a 45-minute appearance with the development squad against Birmingham City earlier this month.

Leeds planned to test him again today and speaking last week, Brown told the YEP: “It’s happening. I played my first 45 the other day and I’ve got 90 minutes to play on Monday, that’s the plan so far. After the 90 minutes on Monday I should be ready for selection.

“I’m training every day with the boys, doing double sessions and basically part of the team. I’ve heard before that I’d be back in a month and then it would take longer than it was supposed to so I don’t ever really get my hopes up but this time I’m excited because I can see that I’m near the end.”

United head coach Marcelo Bielsa, however, insisted again after Saturday’s 2-0 win over Bristol City that he would not rush Brown back into action.

“He still needs more time,” Bielsa said. “It’s well known that he hasn’t played for the last year.

“To be fit is an important condition but it’s not the only one to be able to play at a high competition level. He will need several games to reach his full level again.”

Leeds’ Under-23s have dropped to fourth in Professional Development League North after back-to-back defeats to Birmingham City and Crewe Alexandra.