Leeds boss Gary McAllister is angry over the circumstances of Neil McDonald’s switch to become Sam Allardyce’s assistant at Blackburn Rovers.

McAllister had no quarrel with head coach McDonald’s decision to team up with Blackburn’s new chief but he was disappointed to learn from a third party that the move had gone ahead before Leeds were officially told.

McAllister said: “I am not happy with the way it was done, which is a personal thing. I was very much aware of it a day earlier because the football world is a small one and I have a lot of friends in it, so maybe I knew things that others didn’t.”

Allardyce and McDonald spent five years together at Bolton and McAllister added: “When someone approaches you from two divisions above with a greater financial package there is very little you can do. Neil lives just ten minutes away from Blackburn and he knows Sam well. I am disappointed he has gone and the timing isn’t ideal but no-one is bigger than the club.”

McAllister and assistant boss Steve Staunton will share coaching duties for the time being and they will be looking for a big improvement on recent performances when United visit MK Dons on Saturday.

Frenchman Mansour Assoumani, 25, could make his debut in a defence which has conceded too many goals from set-pieces recently, but striker Malcolm Christie is doubtful after missing training today with flu symptoms.

Jermaine Beckford, Andy Robinson and Paul Huntington are still out injured and David Prutton is suspended after his dismissal for two yellow cards against Colchester.

Assoumani signed on an initial month’s loan on Wednesday after a short trial which included two matches behind closed doors and an outing for the reserves in which he headed a goal.

Assoumani was born in Nice and has played for Montpellier and German clubs FC Saarbrucken and Sportfeunde Siegen. He was able to join United on loan as he is a free agent.

McAllister said of Saturday's task: “It is a crucial game. Along with the home match against Leicester on Boxing Day it gives us a great opportunity to go some way towards reeling in two of the teams above us.

“The players are still working their socks off on the training ground, which makes it easier for me to sleep easier at night.”