Trialist Stewart set to stake claim

Leeds United trialist Michael Stewart could stake his claim for a contract in Tuesday’s reserve-team game at Lincoln City, with the Elland Road club set to decide on his future this week.

The former Manchester United and Heart of Midlothian midfielder is set to appear with United’s second string at Sincil Bank after Leeds opted to extend his trial.

Stewart is a free agent after severing his contract with Turkish club Genclerbirligi for financial reasons last month, and he linked up with United for a short period of training last week.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson has taken the chance to make a fuller assessment of Stewart who, as an unattached professional, is eligible to join an English club outside the transfer window.

The 29-year-old is expected to turn out in Lincoln on Tuesday afternoon while Leeds prepare for their Championship fixture at home to Barnsley.

Grayson admitted he was interested in adding “a couple more players” to his squad to ensure that Leeds have sufficient resources to see them through the last 15 games of the season.

United’s manager said: “He’s out of contract so if we wanted to sign him then we could. Some time next week we’ll have a look and see where we are.

“He’s got good pedigree. He learned his trade with Manchester United, went up to Hearts and then to Turkey where it didn’t work out.

“All we’ve done is take him on for a week and then extend the trial so we can have a better look at him.

“But it’s one of those opportunities where there’s nothing for him to lose. It’s the same for us.

“We’re at the stage where we probably need a couple more players to enhance the squad until the end of the season.”

Stewart made a handful of appearances for Manchester United, where he started his career as a trainee, but the bulk of the Scot’s senior outings were made for Hearts and Hibernian.

He joined Genclerbirligi last summer but left claiming he had not been paid since suffering an injury at the start of the season.

Leeds United News, Snodgrass praises defence,Bates admires Norwich.

Snodgrass praises defence.

Robert Snodgrass has been the stand-out performer for Leeds United in recent weeks, but despite another match-winning performance against Bristol City on Saturday, Snodgrass was quick to praise another area of the team.

Snodgrass told the Yorkshire Evening Post that the defence are the unsung heroes of the clubs promotion push: “The defence have been first class,” he said. After a shaky start to the season which saw the team concede six against Preston North End, five against Barnsley and four against Cardiff City, Leeds have tightened up the defence considerably. Saturday was the first time the side had managed to keep consecutive clean sheets since September and Snodgrass was quick to point out the importance of a solid back line: “They haven’t had as much attention as some other players here but if we’re going to get to the Premier League then this is the way it needs to be. If we keep clean sheets then we’re in business because we’re a team who score a lot of goals.”

Bates admires Norwich.

Leeds United chairman Ken Bates has expressed his admiration for Saturday’s opponents Norwich City in his weekly address to Yorkshire Radio.

The two sides were promoted together from League One last season, and have both surprised many by being promotion contenders in their first season back in the Championship. Bates compared the two clubs by saying: "They're a good team, a good club and they're well run. We have a good manager, a good team, a good ground, great supporters, and we're being run carefully and wisely."

The clash on Saturday is being seen as real six pointer, with just two points separating Norwich in 3rd from Leeds in 6th place. The last three meetings have all been close, Leeds triumphing at Elland Road last season with a last minute Jermaine Beckford goal, but Norwich repaid Leeds by scoring a last minute winner of their own in March. This season the sides drew 1-1 at Carrow Road, and the Leeds chairman, despite wanting to win the game has high hopes for both teams: "It would be nice if we both got promotion this season, us automatically, them through the play-offs” he said.


Leeds extend Stewart trial

Leeds manager Simon Grayson will take a longer look at trialist midfielder Michael Stewart.

The former Scotland international, 29, has been training with Grayson's squad for the last two weeks.

Grayson said: "He's done OK while he's been here and shown the qualities that have seen him play for the likes of Manchester United and Hearts.

"Because he's done well and fitted in well, we're going to take more of a look at him and see how things go."

Stewart, who has won four caps for Scotland, began his career at Old Trafford and has had spells with Nottingham Forest, Hibernian and Hearts.

STEWART set for Leeds Trial match

Former Hearts midfielder Michael Stewart is one of two trialists set to play for Leeds United in a training ground friendly on Monday.
The 29-year-old Scotland international has joined up with the club on a trial basis and will be coming under the watchful eye of manager Simon Grayson.
Stewart arrives having spent time on the continent, following spells with Hibs and Hearts.
The Edinburgh-born player actually started his career as a schoolboy with Rangers before joining Manchester United in 1998, where he made a handful of appearances. He has also featured for Nottingham Forest.
A French midfielder(rumoured to be former Manchester City player Ousmane Dabo) is also set to feature in a game that will also see January signing David Gonzalez pull on a Leeds shirt for the first time.
"We've got a couple of lads up here on trial who will play on Monday," said the boss.
"As ever we'll have a look at them over the next few days and see how things go."
Ross McCormack will return from illness to play in the game, and the boss will utilise his squad members for more important time on the pitch.
MICHAEL STEWART: PLAYER PROFILE