Former Leeds United man Noel Whelan has insisted that Aapo Halme and Mallik Wilks will have points to prove as they prepare to face the Whites for Barnsley this afternoon.

The homegrown duo both departed Elland Road for Oakwell in the summer transfer window, after failing to make an impact under Marcelo Bielsa.

Wilks spent last season on loan with League One side Doncaster Rovers, scoring 16 goals in all competitions and helping the Yorkshire club reach the play-off semi-finals.

Halme, meanwhile, made four Championship appearances for Leeds in the absence of Pontus Jansson and Gaetano Berardi last season, as well as making another appearance in the FA Cup against QPR.

The pair have since become regulars for the Tykes since joining Daniel Stendel's team, and Whelan has told Football Insider that they will be looking to prove a point to Bielsa as they come up against Leeds for the first time since leaving the club.

He said: "Mallik will be out there to prove a point. It’s no different to when any player leaves a club, against your old team that you’ve just left, everybody has a point to prove.

"What they (Wilks and Halme) have to do is maybe not worry about the game and who they’re playing against. You’ve got to manage the occasion and your emotions. There will be more emotions on those two players, Wilks and Halme, than there will be on the Leeds United players.

"There’s pressure on everybody."

Leeds will be looking to bounce back after a 1-0 loss to Swansea City before the international break - a win at Oakwell this afternoon would see them move back to the top of the Championship table.

The Verdict

It is shaping up to be a fiery affair between the two Yorkshire clubs at Oakwell today, with Leeds desperate to pick up all three points after a week off.

Halme and Wilks will be looking to prove points to Bielsa - I was very surprised when the latter left Elland Road in the summer, as I thought that he would be the type of player who could provide competition for Patrick Bamford up top.

Barnsley go into the clash as underdogs for sure, but that will suit Stendel's side in my opinion.