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SETH BOOST FOR UNITED
By PAUL DEWS
SETH JOHNSON is set to hand Leeds United boss Kevin Blackwell an early Christmas present.
The 25-year-old is in the final throes of recovering from a cruciate injury and, barring any slip-ups, will begin full training with Kevin Blackwell's squad next month.
Johnson has made rapid progress, despite suffering two setbacks, and the former Derby midfielder's return will be a major boost for Blackwell.
Eirik Bakke is also making good progress after suffering a knee injury during pre-season and the Norwegian should also be ready to step up training in the New Year with a view to a February return.
United boss Blackwell said: "Both players have made good progress and it'll be great to have them back.
"I thought our best spell last season was when Eirik and Seth were together in the middle of the park – we looked like getting out of trouble – but we lost them both at roughly the same time.
"It'll be like having a couple of new players because they are two big players who can do well for us.
"Seth has had a few complications, but he's still on track as though he has had nothing wrong.
"Both of them have worked very hard to get where they are."
While Johnson and Bakke are nearing a return, physio Dave Hancock and his team are battling gamely in their bid to keep Stephen Crainey off the operating table.
Crainey is struggling with a groin injury, but surgery could lead to a five-month lay-off and Leeds are desperate to avoid that.
The Scot, who became the club's first cash buy for two years when he joined in a £200,000 deal from Southampton in August, has already visited a groin specialist in Belgium.
The 23-year-old's last appearance was in the goalless draw at Cardiff at the start of October, but he had been carrying the injury for some weeks. The root of Crainey's problem is inflammation around a bone in his pelvis which causes pain in his groin and lower back.
United are refusing to put a timescale on Crainey and Hancock and his medical team are working on preventing the problem.
Crainey's ongoing injury woe leaves Danny Pugh as the only recognised left-back at the club, although Matthew Kilgallon has filled in admirably at times this season.
But with Pugh one yellow card away from a suspension, Blackwell could face an unwelcome selection headache.
"Stephen could be a while yet," conceded the United boss. "He may need an operation, but we're hoping it won't come to that. In the meantime we'll play it by ear and decide who is the best person to do the job. So far, I've felt that Danny can fill the role.
"Stephen is a natural full-back who knows where to play. Killa has done well when he has come in but, understandably, he sees the game as a centre-back. We'll look at it as we go."
SETH BOOST FOR UNITED
By PAUL DEWS
SETH JOHNSON is set to hand Leeds United boss Kevin Blackwell an early Christmas present.
The 25-year-old is in the final throes of recovering from a cruciate injury and, barring any slip-ups, will begin full training with Kevin Blackwell's squad next month.
Johnson has made rapid progress, despite suffering two setbacks, and the former Derby midfielder's return will be a major boost for Blackwell.
Eirik Bakke is also making good progress after suffering a knee injury during pre-season and the Norwegian should also be ready to step up training in the New Year with a view to a February return.
United boss Blackwell said: "Both players have made good progress and it'll be great to have them back.
"I thought our best spell last season was when Eirik and Seth were together in the middle of the park – we looked like getting out of trouble – but we lost them both at roughly the same time.
"It'll be like having a couple of new players because they are two big players who can do well for us.
"Seth has had a few complications, but he's still on track as though he has had nothing wrong.
"Both of them have worked very hard to get where they are."
While Johnson and Bakke are nearing a return, physio Dave Hancock and his team are battling gamely in their bid to keep Stephen Crainey off the operating table.
Crainey is struggling with a groin injury, but surgery could lead to a five-month lay-off and Leeds are desperate to avoid that.
The Scot, who became the club's first cash buy for two years when he joined in a £200,000 deal from Southampton in August, has already visited a groin specialist in Belgium.
The 23-year-old's last appearance was in the goalless draw at Cardiff at the start of October, but he had been carrying the injury for some weeks. The root of Crainey's problem is inflammation around a bone in his pelvis which causes pain in his groin and lower back.
United are refusing to put a timescale on Crainey and Hancock and his medical team are working on preventing the problem.
Crainey's ongoing injury woe leaves Danny Pugh as the only recognised left-back at the club, although Matthew Kilgallon has filled in admirably at times this season.
But with Pugh one yellow card away from a suspension, Blackwell could face an unwelcome selection headache.
"Stephen could be a while yet," conceded the United boss. "He may need an operation, but we're hoping it won't come to that. In the meantime we'll play it by ear and decide who is the best person to do the job. So far, I've felt that Danny can fill the role.
"Stephen is a natural full-back who knows where to play. Killa has done well when he has come in but, understandably, he sees the game as a centre-back. We'll look at it as we go."