Richard Naylor is closing in on a return to Leeds United's troubled defence.

Club captain Naylor, who had his 34th birthday yesterday, was an unused substitute as United crashed to a 3-0 defeat at npower Championship promotion rivals Swansea on Saturday.

It was the first time he had appeared on the teamsheet since October, when he suffered a knee injury which required surgery.

The central defender is keen to play his part as his home-town club bid to revive their promotion drive after three games without a win.

Naylor suffered a dip in form before his injury, but the former Ipswich skipper has immense experience which could prove valuable with his colleagues conceding eight goals over the last three matches.

Manager Simon Grayson said: "Richard is now fully fit and available.

"He has worked hard to regain his fitness but he has had to be patient because we kept successive clean sheets in the wins against Coventry and Bristol City before drawing with Norwich and Barnsley and losing at Swansea."

Alex Bruce and Andy O'Brien's have formed United's central defensive partnership for much of the season, but Naylor and Leigh Bromby are now pushing strongly for inclusion, with long-term casualty Patrick Kisnorbo still awaiting an estimated comeback date.

Naylor is likely to get another run-out in the reserves when they take on Hull City at North Ferriby United tomorrow night.

Midfielder Bradley Johnson is available for Saturday's home game against Doncaster after serving a one-match suspension.

* Two of Leeds United’s away matches have been re-scheduled.

The kick-off time of the Yorkshire derby at Sheffield United on Saturday, March 19, has been brought forward to 1pm at the request of police, while the trip to QPR on the final day of the Championship season has been switched from Sunday, May 8, to Saturday, May 7.

All Championship clubs will kick off at 12.45pm on the Saturday.