The Championship promotion race will have plenty of contenders according to Leeds United’s first-team coach Glynn Snodin.

Only eight points currently separate the top six sides, while a further six clubs are within five points of the play-offs.

Snodin, a former Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday defender, is predicting this season’s title will go down to the wire.

He said: “Everybody will have a dip and take points off each other.

“A few years ago, you’d got all bar a couple of teams not involved in something at the end of the season and I can see that this year.

“It depends what happens in January with some teams – that might tell us something – but it’s going to be very, very tight.”

On Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Watford, Snodin said: “Creating chances has never been a problem. They made it difficult for us but that is something Watford can do well on their day.

“Maybe it sums up the Championship because you can never predict and you never know what will be next.”

Saturday’s visitors Reading could move to within two points of Leeds if they win at Elland Road, underlining the competitive nature of the division.

The Royals have won three of their last four matches and Snodin is well aware of the threat they will pose.

He said: “They make it difficult for you to break them down. They have good pace out wide and they have good lads up front. They have goals in them and when they’re away they don’t concede many.”

Jonathan Howson’s knee injury, picked up against Millwall earlier this month, will keep him out for two to three months, the club have confirmed.

The news could see Leeds renew their efforts to sign Blackburn Rovers’ Keith Andrews in the January transfer window.

They missed out on the Republic of Ireland man in August and his current loan spell at Ipswich ends next month.

A number of Premier League sides have also been linked with him.