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Leeds manager Simon Grayson wants one of his players to steal the attention away from star striker Jermaine Beckford in the FA Cup replay against Tottenham at Elland Road.
Prolific Beckford burst on to the national stage after poaching the winner against Manchester United in the third round and hogged the headlines after his stoppage-time penalty equaliser at White Hart Lane.
The 26-year-old forward, who had withdrawn a transfer request before his heroics against Tottenham, fired his 23rd and 24th goals of the season on Saturday to help Leeds pick up their promotion bid with a 2-0 win against Colchester.
A half-smiling Grayson suggested it was now time for someone else to step forward.
2010 Football World Cup
When asked how his players would approach the fourth-round replay, considering Championship football next season is the main aim, Grayson said: “We’ll just go and enjoy it. We’ve not really spoken about it. We’ll just go and enjoy it like we did at Old Trafford.”
He has already decided what to tell the players ahead of the clash with Harry Redknapp’s Premier League superstars and he explained the message would be: “Give the best account of yourselves that you can, have no regrets when you come off the pitch and somebody try to be a hero again because Jermaine’s got a lot of the headlines in the last couple of rounds. It would be nice for somebody else to get them for a change.”
Leeds have won some new friends under Grayson this season, with an eye-catching display in the Carling Cup defeat to Liverpool in September serving as a warm-up for the upset at Old Trafford and the inspired late rally against Spurs.
All three high profile cup ties were screened live on television but Grayson stopped short of agreeing Leeds are ready to shed their reputation as one of the country’s least liked clubs on the back of some favourable national coverage.
He said: “I’d like to think we’re trying to do something about it because of the way that we play. There’s been a stigma attached to the football club for the last 30 or 40 years, justifiably so or unjustifiably so, that’s down to people’s opinions.
“All I’m trying to do as a manager is create a team that is hard-working, has a desire to succeed and try to entertain as well, and if it means we’re liked, well so be it and if we’re not liked and are winning football matches, then who cares?”
Patrick Kisnorbo (Achilles/calf) and Neil Kilkenny (ankle) are doubtful while winger Max Gradel and new loan signings Gary McSheffrey and Shane Lowry are ineligible. Andrew Hughes could be available following illness.
Redknapp knows Tottenham will be up against it at Leeds having experienced first hand just what a tough place Elland Road can be.
While Leeds may not be the force they were in the 1970s when Redknapp played for West Ham, the Spurs boss knows it will be no easy ride into round five and a clash at Bolton.
“Going to Elland Road can’t be as intimidating as when they had Norman Hunter, Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner – that was one of the great football teams, right up there with the very best,” Redknapp said.
“But it will be a tough game, they will be difficult opposition and played ever so well at White Hart Lane, even though we should have won the game.
“They are a team who can play way above their level, but we are doing well, with just two defeats in 12 games.”
With Robbie Keane having joined Celtic on loan, Redknapp confirmed centre-back Michael Dawson would step in as skipper again, given Ledley King will be rested.
“Michael Dawson has been captaining the team and has done a good job,” the Spurs boss said. “He signed a new contract, has been in great form, a real leader who leads by example and so he will be captain the team against Leeds.”
Striker Roman Pavlyuchenko (groin) is not expected to feature while new signing Eidur Gudjohnsen is unavailable as he was not involved in the original tie.
With fellow new recruit Younes Kaboul and Kyle Walker, recalled from Sheffield United, cup-tied, Redknapp admits the deadline day deals have left his options somewhat limited.
“We are one or two down in terms of numbers but it will be an opportunity for a couple of youngsters to come and sit on the bench,” he said.
“I will speak to (academy manager) John McDermott and (under-18s coach) Alex Inglethorpe to see which players deserve that opportunity.”