Former Leeds United loanee Michael Gray has claimed that the club are one of the two best teams in the Championship, as they bid to make a long-awaited return to the Premier League.

Leeds narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League via both the automatic promotion and play-off spots last season, and have started in similarly encouraging form at the start of this season.

Four wins and one draw from their opening six games of the season have now left Leeds third in the early standings at the start of the 2019/20 campaign, and Gray has clearly been impressed with the former club in recent years.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Football League World Chief Editor Sam Rourke, Gray was asked about Leeds' performances in recent times, with the ex-defender saying: "I was very impressed with them last season.

"My only worry was when Bielsa came into that club, he was trying to explain to that squad of players that 'you've got to work your socks off like you've never worked your socks off before', you just wonder how many players really buy into that.

"I think they did it up until a point toward the end of the season where it seemed like every time they had a chance to go top of the table was when they slipped up."

Turning his attention to the Elland Road club's performances so far this season, Gray continued:

"Whether the players have learned from that this season is yet to be seen, we're still early on in the season but they're certainly one of the favourites there's no doubt about it.

"It's a good squad of players but then, Fulham, if they get it right, you know their forward players they're going to cause problems for whoever they come up against, but there's no doubt that I think Leeds United are probably one of the best two teams in the Championship."

Leeds are next in action on Sunday afternoon, when they make the short trip to Oakwell to take on Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.