Pugh returns to Leeds

Leeds have signed Stoke defender Danny Pugh on loan with a view to a permanent deal.

Defender moves on loan until January with a view to a permanent deal

Leeds have signed Stoke defender Danny Pugh on loan with a view to a permanent deal. The 28-year-old, who has initially moved to Elland Road until January, returns for a second spell at the club, where he made 57 appearances between 2004 and 2006. And Leeds manager Simon Grayson hopes Pugh's knowledge of the Championship will prove a valuable asset. Grayson said: "He's a versatile player and an experienced player who has played in both the Premier League and the Europa League with Stoke. "He also knows the Championship well and knows this club very well. Two or three other clubs were in for him but he jumped at the chance to come here. "This was a deal we almost did on deadline day with some of the money that is available, but Tony [Pulis] wanted to keep him at Stoke a while longer, so we've brought him in on loan in the first instance and will make it permanent in January." Pugh found first-team appearances hard to come by towards the end of his first stint at Leeds and moved to Preston for £250,000 in June 2006 before Stoke paid £500,000 for the left-sided player in January 2008.