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Yorkshire Evening Post 12/9/10
There'll be no holds barred from Faye
By Phil Hay
Simon Grayson believes Amdy Faye will bring necessary experience to Leeds United's midfield after joining the club on a short-term contract.
The Senegalese international has landed an initial deal until January on the back of a short trial with United and an outing in their reserve-team fixture at Grimsby Town on Tuesday night.
Leeds identified the out-of-contract 33-year-old as a possible answer to their lack of a recognised defensive midfielder, and negotiations over a deal were concluded on Thursday afternoon, ahead of yesterday's clash with Swansea City.
His arrival brings to Elland Road a player with several international caps and extensive experience of English football after previous spells with Stoke City, Portsmouth, Newcastle United and Charlton Athletic.
United do not lack midfield options but the majority of those players – such as Jonathan Howson, Neil Kilkenny and Bradley Johnson – are more suited to attacking roles, and the signing of Faye has filled the one area of Grayson's squad that was arguably vacant.
"I can't see him being one who gets box-to-box," said Grayson.
"In his career he's always been a holding midfielder or a centre-half. He won't be bombing all over the pitch but we can leave that to the younger lads. He puts a foot in, he tackles and he's a different asset that I can use.
"Kilkenny, Howson and Johnson are young and enthusiastic.
"Faye's an experienced type who's been round the block, at international level as well. His presence and the quality he'll bring is different to the other midfield players we already have."
Leeds will spend the coming weeks attempting to build up Faye's fitness after a year in which he played only one competitive game for Stoke.
The Premier League club chose to release him at the end of last season, two years after signing him from Charlton Athletic, and the midfielder has seen precious little football in the months since.
But he completed 90 minutes of Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Grimsby Town, a game that Grayson and his coaching staff travelled to watch and which convinced them to offer him a short-term contract.
Grayson said: "In terms of the way he played, we got everything we expected from him.
"He's got good pedigree and experience, and he's just a bit short in terms of fitness levels. He impressed me."

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