A need to “go there and make it hard for them” is the message from new Leeds United assistant manager Mick Jones ahead of tomorrow’s highly important Championship trip to Portsmouth.

The visit to Fratton Park officially begins boss Neil Warnock’s reign in charge of the Whites a week after he watched a miraculous second-half Elland Road fight back against Doncaster.

With United trailing at half-time Neil Warnock entered the dressing room, where his inspirational words paid off with the side taking a massive three points from the Championship’s basement club.

Portsmouth is the last February fixture for the Whites before a hectic, season-defining March schedule as they push for promotion under Warnock.

The build up to the game has been heavily focused on the former Scarborough boss and Jones has highlighted the manager as someone who can change the club’s recent fortunes.

“He’s a demanding man for staff, players and everyone around him,” he said. “He’s very committed. He expects the same from everybody and if you respond, you will have a friend for life.”

One player definitely out of tomorrow’s game is loanee Fabian Delph. The midfielder was due to play the last game of his loan spell at Pompey, but is likely to have his time at the Whites cut short after suffering what appears to be a season-ending ankle injury at Coventry last midweek.

On loan midfielder Andros Townsend has also left Elland Road, cutting short his loan spell from Tottenham.

Relegation strugglers Portsmouth could be without six first-team players for the fixture and Jones wants to see a fully committed performance against a side who were recently docked ten points.

Jones said: “We’ve got to go there and make it hard for them. I don’t buy into this ‘it’s a tough game for you’. I want people to say it’s a tough game for them. We can’t give 75 per cent. We have to be fully committed.”