'˜Genuine' Alioski praised by Leeds United boss Heckingbottom after Pride Park star turn

Alioski came off the bench to hand Leeds a 2-1 advantage with 10 minutes to go, his first strike in 13 games.

The Macedonia international had failed to find the net since November 25, when he scored against a Barnsley side managed by Heckingbottom, and he has struggled for form through the winter amid a severe downturn in United’s results.

Heckingbottom fielded him in his first game as head coach, a 2-1 defeat at Sheffield United, but dropped him immediately on the back of a poor display.

Alioski was among the substitutes at Pride Park last night but was thrown on in the second half and put Leeds on course for a badly-needed Championship win with an 80th-minute header. Derby, however, snatched a 2-2 draw with an injury-time goal from Kasey Palmer.

Heckingbottom credited Alioski for his performance, saying: “I’m pleased for him. He’s another player who’s so genuine.

“He wants to play every minute of every game, he wants to give you everything and probably beats himself up a bit, puts pressure on himself and judges himself too harshly.

“A couple of his defensive positions were superb. One, he picked up a loose ball from Derby and broke and another one, two minutes later, Derby looked in a dangerous position and he was on the edge of the box, restricting Bradley Johnson to a shot. That’s first class and that’s from a wide player.

“They’re the positions I wanted him to take up and they’re the things I want to see over and over again.”