Video: Leeds United keeper Wiedwald responds '˜positively' after being dropped '“ Christiansen

Wiedwald was benched for last weekend’s 1-0 loss at home to Reading as Christiansen instead sided with experienced new recruit Andy Lonergan after United leaked in six goals in their previous two encounters which resulted in a 3-1 loss at Cardiff City and a 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday.

Wiedwald was signed in the summer from Werder Bremen and had replaced Rob Green as first choice goalkeeper with the German starting United’s first 11 league games.

Wiedwald will be trying to win his place back in the Whites side as Leeds prepare for Saturday afternoon’s trip to fourth-placed Bristol City, as part of a busy week that also sees United visit Premier Division side Leicester City on Tuesday in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

The Whites will then welcome third-placed Sheffield United next Friday with Wiedwald and Lonergan battling to start after young ‘keeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell joined York City on a one-month loan deal.

And Christiansen has been pleased with the reaction shown by Wiedwald in training with United’s head coach insisting that the former Germany under-20s player understood why he was dropped.

Asked if he had spoken to Wiedwald this week and how the German had reacted to being benched, Christiansen said: “I don’t need to speak to the players. Everyone knows their situation but I had my speak with him and I told him what I expected more from him but there has been a very good reaction from him.”

“Everyone that has their place taken by another one has tried to come back and this is what they need to do, give 100 per cent and try to win not only their own confidence but my confidence in them.”

Asked if Wiedwald had understood why he had been left out against Reading, Christiansen replied: “He understood the reason that I gave him and this is something that we are going to work on.

“Again, it’s a very long league, a tough league and they will have many games on their backs. When we need them they need to be ready.”