Former Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford says his old club will win promotion to the Premier League this season, provided they improve their home form.

Leeds currently sit second in the Championship - one point behind leaders Swansea - having won six and drawn two of their opening ten league games of the season, having narrowly missed out on a return to the top flight via both the automatic promotion places and the play-offs during the previous campaign.

Now it seems Beckford is confident that his former side can end their long wait for a return to the Premier League this season, if they start to pick up results at Elland Road.

Speaking on TalkSport on Friday morning, Beckford - who made 152 appearances and scored 85 goals in all competitions for Leeds between 2006 and 2010 - was asked if he thinks his old club could secure promotion this season, with the 35-year-old responding: "Yes I do.

"Leeds are top of the league as it stands right now as we're talking, but Leeds' home form has not been great.

"So there's been a couple of draws, a loss, at home. The away form has been amazing."

It seems Beckford is confident that that is something his side will be able to do, with the striker evidently expecting big things from his former club, as he continued: "If Leeds - not even if - when Leeds can rectify that situation at home, get the form to match the away form, nobody's going to be able to catch Leeds, in my opinion.

"Nobody's going to catch Leeds. Leeds are the best team in the Championship."

Leeds are next in action when they travel to The Den to face Millwall on Saturday, where a win could take Marcelo Bielsa's side top of the table, depending on results elsewhere.

The Verdict

I do agree with Beckford with regards to Leeds' home form here.

So far this season, Bielsa's side have taken eight points from their five league games at Elland Road, in comparison to 12 points from their five league games away from home.

Not only is that surprising, but it also feels like something of a minor concern for Leeds, considering they would already be moving clear of the play-off places have they matched their points tally away from home at Elland Road.

Having picked up nine more points at home than away during the regular season in the previous campaign - taking 46 points in total at Elland Road - it does seem as though Leeds are more than capable of improving their form on their own turf going forward.

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