Leeds United: Play-offs are a minimum target says Caleb Ekuban

The forward believes a top-six finish is well within United’s compass and that in his own belief: “I always think that we can even achieve more.”

United led the division after going unbeaten through their first seven games with five victories and two draws putting the Whites top of the Championship following a 2-0 victory at home to Birmingham City on September 12.

A barren run of seven defeats from nine league games saw Leeds drop down the table to 10th place but Christiansen’s men have bounced back by recording six points from their last three games with a 4-1 loss at leaders Wolves sandwiched by victories at Barnsley and at home to Garry Monk’s Middlesbrough.

United now sit eighth ahead of Friday night’s clash with fourth-placed Aston Villa at Elland Road – three points off the play-off places – and Ekuban believes a top-six finish should be well within United’s grasp.

The striker also insists that United’s current squad have the right mentality to deal with the weight of expectation that comes with representing Leeds.

Ekuban told the YEP: “I think that the play-offs are quite okay for our standards because we think there are not too many teams that are better than us.

“We think that the play-offs will be the right goal and I always think that we can even achieve more.

“There is a huge expectation but we know that we are players that can deal with that kind of pressure and we are showing it.

“Okay, maybe two or three weeks ago we didn’t show it but we still know that we are comfortable playing under pressure so we are okay with it.”