LEEDS United club captain Richard Naylor’s return to fitness has intensified the competition for centre-back places at Elland Road.
Naylor played for an hour in Leeds reserves’ 2-1 victory at Middlesbrough on Wednesday night and reported no ill effects during his first match after a back operation over the summer.
The former Ipswich and Barnsley defender is unlikely to figure in tomorrow’s League One home match against Gillingham, but his presence should keep current centre-back pairing Leigh Bromby and Paddy Kisnorbo on their toes.
As well as Australian international Kisnorbo, Naylor will also be competing with Slovakia’s Lubo Michalik and Angola’s Rui Marques for a first-team berth in coming weeks.
Gillingham, who have won their last three matches, will include a familiar face in their starting line-up with Curtis Weston set to take on his old club.
Midfielder Weston scored one goal in ten outings for United during the 2007/8 season.
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