LEEDS United head coach Steve Evans believes Brian McDermott will receive a warm welcome on his return to Elland Road tomorrow.

McDermott brings his Reading side in what will mark the first time he has headed back to the club since his acrimonious departure.

He was the first manager to part company with Leeds in the aftermath of Massimo Cellino's takeover of the Yorkshire club.

The 55-year-old, who Cellino infamously tried to sack before his buy-out was complete, left United in May 2014 – less than two months after Cellino took control at Elland Road and 12 months into a three-year contract.

Evans, who is the sixth first-team boss under Cellino at Leeds, said: "Brian will come back and he'll get a wonderful ovation from the Leeds United supporters, I'm sure. So he should.

"I've known him a lot of years and we'll have a glass of wine afterwards – but I want it to be a glass of wine with a smile for me after a good performance."

Leeds and Reading are tied on 51 points in the Championship and on the brink of mathematical safety from relegation.

Yet Sol Bamba (ankle) and Mustapha Carayol (hamstring) are doubts for tomorrow's game after both picked up knocks during the 2-1 win at Birmingham on Tuesday.

Liam Bridcutt, meanwhile, will also be assessed on his thigh injury, with Evans hinting the on-loan Sunderland midfielder might again not be risked.

Evans said: "There's only maybe a couple of little concerns. Mustapha just felt tight on his hamstring but we are hopeful that everything will be okay.

"Sol Bamba twisted his ankle but again we are hopeful he will be okay, so we should pretty much be looking at most – if not all – of those lads being available.

"But we will just issue a little bit of precaution about those two because we are going to go and see them train first.

"We are hopeful that Liam will be out training and we can certainly play him in within the last game or two. Will we play him? We will see how he trains."