Starlet Jonny Howson is determined to stave off competition from fit-again Jonathan Douglas and keep his place in Leeds United's midfield.

Leeds-born Howson, 19, has started every game since Gary McAllister took charge and has formed a formidable partnership with the more experienced David Prutton.

Douglas, who spent three months on the sidelines with knee trouble, continued along the road to full match fitness with another outing in the reserves in midweek and had a ten-minute first-team stint when he left the bench in last week's 2-0 win over Walsall.

However, McAllister is delighted with the form of his midfield quartet - Neil Kilkenny, Howson, Prutton and Bradley Johnson - leaving Douglas with a battle on his hands to win back his place.

With Andrew Hughes still suspended, an unchanged team looks likely against Brighton at Elland Road on Saturday and Howson says: "You can see the manager's tactics coming into place with each game we play. We are starting to settle down as a midfield four.

"We needed time together because it wasn't going to happen overnight, but now you can see the effects of all the hard work.

"David Prutton did a good job on the right but he is definitely more effective in the centre. He seems to be improving with every performance and it's great to have an experienced player like him alongside me."

Howson realises Douglas is a threat to his place and adds: "Knowing he is nearing full fitness is keeping the midfield men on our toes. We know if we have a bad game there are players like him to come in.

"As a team we had a blip but that was always going to happen at some stage but now we are performing again and teams will be worrying about us."

Howson added: "It has been a learning curve for me this season so I can't take anything for granted.

"We have some six-pointers coming up against the teams around us, including Brighton. When we went down there and won I thought they were a good way off the play-offs but suddenly they are just ahead of us in the table, so things can change quickly and it is all to play for."