'Rat' pact for Leeds United boss Neil Warnock (From York Press)

'Rat' pact for Leeds United boss Neil Warnock

11:24am Monday 13th August 2012 in Sport By Martin Jarred

NEIL Warnock and El Hadji Diouf have buried the hatchet.

The Leeds United boss, who once famously likened the Senegalese international to a sewer rat, has signed the controversial 31-year-old on a non-contract basis.

The player was given a mixed reaction as he came on as a substitute as the Whites powered past Shewsbury 4-0 into the second round of the Capital One Cup at Elland Road.

Neil Warnock’s side included seven new signings and another debutant in homegrown teenage right-back Sam Byram.

The Shropshire side bossed the early stages with some incisive attacks as Leeds struggled to knit together and Paddy Kenny had to be at his sharpest. But his opposite number Chris Weale found a pile-driver from Rodolph Austin too hot to hold on 20 minutes. The defence failed to deal with the loose ball and Luciano Becchio netted easily.

Six minutes later another defensive error saw Luke Varney convert from close range to ease home nerves.

David Norris made it 3-0 from Varney’s headed knock-down on 65 minutes before fellow midfielder Paul Green pressurised a Shrews defender into handling the ball, leaving Ross McCormack to complete the scoring from the spot.

Late on 19-year-old striker Dominic Poleon got on for the first time with Diouf, who could be the man to provide the attacking spark required in the Championship, starting with Wolves at Elland Road on Saturday.