Leeds United v Reading referee in focus as Whites face new man in the middle at Elland Road

Jarrod Gillett will take charge of Leeds United for the first time this weekend
Leeds United will have a new referee in charge this weekend. (Image: Bruce Rollinson)Leeds United will have a new referee in charge this weekend. (Image: Bruce Rollinson)
Leeds United will have a new referee in charge this weekend. (Image: Bruce Rollinson)

Leeds United will face a new man in the middle this weekend as referee Jarrod Gillett takes charge of a Whites fixture for the first time in his career.

Marcelo Bielsa's side welcome Reading to Elland Road in league action and will see a new figure take control in LS11.

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The 33-year-old began his officiating career over 10 years ago in his homeland of Australia as Gillett started out as a A-League referee at the age of 23.

He has learned his trade Down Under having been named the league's Referee of the Year on five separate occasions, before making the switch to England after taking up a post-doctoral research position at Liverpool John Moores University last year.

He took charge of his first EFL game in April 2019 between Morecambe and Cheltenham in League Two.

Gillett made his Championship debut on the final day of the 2018/19 campaign, as Blackburn Rovers and Swansea City played out a 2-2 draw.

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The match official has taken charge of 22 games this season - with 17 of those in England's second tier - and has previous international experience, which includes a friendly between Argentina and Iraq.

He has handed out 68 yellow cards and two red cards this term in the Championship and has officiated two fixtures for the visitors to West Yorkshire this weekend.

Gillett saw Reading defeated 2-0 at the Madjeski by Charlton Athletic in August before a trip to Deepdale in December saw the Royals topple Preston North End 2-0.

This weekend's match between the Whites and Mark Bowen's outfit will see the Australian take charge of Leeds for the first ever time.