Sky Sports pundit David Prutton believes that Leeds United need to prove they have the mental strength to win promotion, starting at Middlesbrough today.

The Whites have been superb for most of the season so far, however they head to the Riverside having lost four of their last six games, which has seen them slip to second as a result.

Therefore, the pressure is starting to build on the side and Prutton wrote in his Yorkshire Evening Post column that the players need to rise to the challenges that will be in front of them.

"The demands that are going to be placed on the players both physically and mentally will be a true test of whether they are a team, a squad and a group of men that are capable of getting promotion."

That's because the former Leeds midfielder doesn't think Marcelo Bielsa's group are lacking in terms of quality, as he stated they are arguably the best in the Championship with everyone available.

"I wouldn’t have said it last season, but because of how they have performed this season, I think that when the squad is fully fit they have got a group of players that can go toe to toe with anyone in the division."

The Verdict

This is a fair assessment from Prutton and it will be interesting to see how Leeds cope with the inevitable pressure that's building.

As he says, in terms of ability they can match anyone, so it's about standing up and delivering in crucial moments - starting today.

However, they have the ideal manager for these situations and the experienced Bielsa will be a massive help as the season progresses.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.