Paul Heckingbottom has stressed that he wants Leeds United to be a force again in the Sky Bet Championship, as the new Elland Road boss prepares for his first game in-charge this weekend against Sheffield United.

Leeds travel to Bramall Lane on Saturday lunchtime, with Heckingbottom insisting he wants the Whites to be a force again, whilst also stating that he hopes by the time they kick-off in two days he wants to feel like he has been in the job a year – as reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post’s, Phil Hay.

Heckingbottom was appointed at Elland Road on Tuesday, with the 40-year-old tasked with turning Leeds’ season around, after a winless run that stretches back to Boxing Day.

That run of results cost Thomas Christiansen his job, with the Dane departing Elland Road with Leeds in 10th.

Heckingbottom’s current crop of players are seven points adrift of the top-six, a gap that they are looking to cut this weekend when they face Sheffield United, with Leeds’ latest head-coach eyeing a fast start to life with the Whites.

Leeds have been boosted ahead of Saturday’s clash, with news that Pontus Jansson will be fit and available to travel to Bramall Lane on Saturday.

The Verdict  

Heckingbottom appears in good spirits ahead of his first game in-charge, despite Leeds’ worrying run of form in the Championship.

It will be some achievement if Heckingbottom can turn things around at Elland Road in the coming weeks, but he seems well up for the challenge, which can only be seen as a good thing for Leeds.

Leeds fans… Let us know your thoughts!