Leeds v Barnsley preview

Leeds trio Pontus Jansson, Liam Cooper and Adam Forshaw could return to contention for the visit of boss Paul Heckingbottom's former club Barnsley.

Jansson missed last week's defeat at Aston Villa due to concussion, while fellow centre-back Cooper has missed the last seven games due to a leg injury. Midfielder Forshaw has been sidelined for five games with a calf problem, but all three have returned to training and could be included in the squad.

Heckingbottom is still without suspended defender Gaetano Berardi, Luke Ayling (ankle), Laurens De Bock (hamstring), Tyler Roberts (shin) and Conor Shaughnessy (ankle).

Barnsley's Adam Jackson and Brad Potts are both hoping to shake off knocks in time to prove their fitness. Defender Jackson and midfielder Potts were both forced off during last week's home draw against Bolton, but have not been ruled out.

Centre-back Matt Mills is closing in on his return after being sidelined since the end of February due to an ankle injury. Boss Jose Morais has reported no new injury concerns as the Reds bid to climb out of the bottom three.

Opta stats

Leeds are unbeaten in their last three home league games against Barnsley since losing 2-1 in November 2011.

Barnsley haven't lost both league matches in a season against the Whites since the 1997-98 season in the Premier League.

Paul Heckingbottom took charge of Barnsley in the reverse fixture, a 2-0 win for Leeds - the last manager to lose a Football League fixture twice in a season as manager of both clubs was Paul Cook in 2012-13 as manager of Accrington and then Chesterfield.

Oliver McBurnie has scored eight goals in 12 league starts for Barnsley since joining on loan. Only two players have netted more Championship goals since McBurnie's first Barnsley start on February 10th (Aleksandar Mitrovic 10 & Patrick Bamford 9).

Leeds have already conceded more league goals at Elland Road in nine matches in 2018 (17) than they did in 23 matches in 2017 (16).

Barnsley are winless in their last four away league games, losing each of the last three. They last lost four consecutively back in August 2017 (5).

No Championship team has won fewer points in 2018 than Leeds United (12).

Prutton's prediction

Will Paul Heckingbottom be the man to push his old side further towards relegation? It will certainly make for interesting viewing at Elland Road on Saturday.

Leeds are treading water in the league now but their fans will be desperate for a performance from their side against their local rivals. Barnsley need a win, but I can't see them getting more than a draw.

David Prutton predicts: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)