Jermaine Beckford returns to his old Elland Road stamping-ground (From York Press)

Jermaine Beckford returns to his old Elland Road stamping-ground

10:04am Friday 27th April 2012 in Leeds United

HE’S back. Former Leeds United hit-man Jermaine Beckford returns to his old Elland Road stamping-ground tomorrow when the npower Championship season draws to a close.

For both Leeds and Beckford’s current employers, Leicester, it has been a dispiriting campaign, with both clubs’ targets of promotion at least via the play-offs having hit the buffers.

Leicester’s push lasted longer than Leeds but was ended in their 2-1 defeat at home to West Ham on Monday. But on target for the Foxes was none other than Beckford.

And Leeds will need to guard against the man who, as a mighty White, bagged 85 goals in 152 appearances.

That earned a high-profile move to Everton two years ago. But Beckford did not prosper on Merseyside and on the last day of the August transfer window he was recruited by Leicester, then being expensively overhauled by one-time England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

For Leeds tomorrow’s finale offers the chance to give some cheer to their fans ahead of what is expected to be a hectic summer of arrivals and departures as manager Neil Warnock builds for a genuine promotion assault next term.