Whites favourite John Sheridan on Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United's chances of a Premier League return

Thirty years ago Sheridan shouldered a lot of the responsibility for making Leeds good to watch.

The skilful midfielder spent his entire seven years at Elland Road in Division Two - the club were relegated from Division One the summer before he was scouted playing for his local amateur side and finally earned promotion again nine months after his departure.

His ability to make things happen and the 47 goals he scored in 230 games made him a popular character during a difficult era for the Whites.

Three decades on, Leeds are once again attempting to escape the second tier of English football after another difficult period in their history.

Their former midfielder is a huge fan of boss Marcelo Bielsa and the way in which his team operates, in a style that has won admirers outside of the Leeds fanbase.

"I love him," said Sheridan, now 13 years into a managerial career that has yielded a promotion from League Two with Chesterfield and play-off finishes with Oldham and Plymouth.

"I think he's got his team playing the way you want to watch a team, whether you support Leeds or not.

"Everyone really appreciates the way they work hard and how attack minded they are, put teams on the back foot, how fit they look."

Bielsa's first season in charge ultimately ended in failure and heartache with a play-off semi-final defeat by Derby County.

Sheridan experienced his own United heartbreak in 1987, Billy Bremner's Leeds falling at the last hurdle against Charlton Athletic in the Second Division play-offs.

What he has seen of Bielsa's men in the head coach's second season in charge has convinced him that this time the story will have a happy ending.

"I think they'll learn a lot from last season, I'm pleased the manager ended up staying this season for another go at it.

"They were so close last season, just unfortunate at the end when they got one or two injuries when they didn't need it.

"This season he's got them at it again. The tempo of the game, they're very hard to play against and very enjoyable to watch.

"I think they'll go all the way this season."