Pablo Hernandez cites key period for Leeds United emerging in wide open push for the Premier League

PABLO HERNANDEZ has highlighted the importance of the next two months in Leeds United building a solid platform at the top of the table for their Premier League promotion push.
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Marcelo Bielsa’s Whites return to Championship action following the two-week November international break with tomorrow’s clash at fourth-bottom Luton Town which Leeds approach sat third but only two points adrift of leaders West Brom.

Following back to back home wins against Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers, United are only behind second-placed Preston North End on goal difference yet in a congested division there are only seven points back to tenth-placed QPR.

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All four of United’s next four opponents sit in the bottom eight of the division and five of Leeds’ next six games come against sides in the bottom half, the exception being the clash against 12th-placed Hull City at Elland Road on the second Tuesday in December.

MAKE IT COUNT: Spanish playmaker Pablo Hernandez says the next two months are key to Leeds United's promotion prospects. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.MAKE IT COUNT: Spanish playmaker Pablo Hernandez says the next two months are key to Leeds United's promotion prospects. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.
MAKE IT COUNT: Spanish playmaker Pablo Hernandez says the next two months are key to Leeds United's promotion prospects. Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.

Thereafter, Leeds will be into a Festive period offering of four games in 12 days including a home clash against second-placed Preston on Boxing Day and visit to current leaders West Brom on New Year’s Day.

The Whites also visit title third-favourites Fulham on the final Saturday before Christmas and Spanish playmaker Hernandez is fully aware of the importance of the immediate period ahead.

“The next month or two are very important for all the teams,” said Hernandez.

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“We have a lot of teams in the Christmas period and normally it’s the period where you can start to see which teams will fight at the top of the league and who will be in mid-table.

“It’s very important for us to win games and try to get into a good position in the table but in this league every game is difficult so it’s very important for us that we’re on the back of two wins a row. We have to try to continue that.”

Assessing who he saw as United’s main promotion rivals, Hernandez pondered: “Last season, around this time of the year you could see three teams who were going to challenge – Leeds, Norwich and Sheffield United.

“This season you can’t see one team that is better than the rest, you have five, six or seven teams at the same level and I think these teams will fight for promotion until the end of the season.”