Leeds United's Becchio hopeful of attacking return (From York Press)

Leeds United's Becchio hopeful of attacking return

11:36am Friday 18th January 2013 in Sport

LEEDS United’s coveted top scorer Luciano Becchio is hopeful of a return to the attack tomorrow for the visit of anchor npower Championship club Bristol City.

But as the January transfer window gets narrower, the 29-year-old Argentinean is still embroiled in speculation over his future.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez played down reports linking the club with a move for Becchio.

Martinez was also bemused by reports the Argentinean, valued at £4 million after scoring 19 goals for Neil Warnock’s men, watched Latics’ FA Cup third-round replay win at Bournemouth as Leeds toppled Birmingham 2-1 on Tuesday.

Becchio missed the Leeds win through illness, confirmed manager Neil Warnock, while, when asked about the possible attendance of Becchio at the DW Stadium, his Wigan counterpart Martinez said: “I don’t think so. If he was I didn’t know about it.”

If Becchio returns tomorrow he will be hopeful of adding to his impressive tally against a Robins’ team who this week sacked manager Derek McInness and replaced him with former Doncaster Rovers boss Sean O’Driscoll.