LEEDS United head coach Neil Redfearn believes his fast-improving young side could be ready to compete for promotion in the next couple of years.

The Whites travel to leaders Middlesbrough on Saturday in the midst of a rich run of form which has seen them win four of their last six Championship outings.

The run has elevated them into the top half of the table, with Redfearn citing Boro as an example for his promising young team to follow.

“That’s got to be the target,” said the Leeds boss. “These sides that are up there have put two or three seasons together where they have planned and built and gradually improved.

“If you look at us, I suppose really we are right in the infancy of what we’re doing. We’ve had a lot of upheaval this season and we’ve had a little bit of a struggle as well and it’s been tough.

“But these young players have now got experience of that and have come out the other side and still look good.

“If we can add better players to what we’ve got now then you don’t know, in a couple of years’ time we could be serious contenders.”

Leeds have centre-back Liam Cooper available again for Saturday’s match but Redfearn is expected to keep faith with Sol Bamba and Giuseppe Bellusci, while using Steve Morison as his lone striker.

Redfearn accepts that Middlesbrough represent a stern challenge but his encouraged by his side’s recent form.

He added: “On our day, if we perform like we can then we know we can get a result.

“There is a lot of the season left and we’ve got to try and push as high as we can.


“If we can’t beat Boro then we need to make sure we don’t lose.”