LEEDS manager Steve Evans hopes winger Sam Byram will decide to sign a new contract at Elland Road.

The highly-rated youngster, who is out of contract at the end of the season and has been in dispute over signing a new deal, made a surprise return to the starting line-up and showed his class with a double to inspire Leeds to an impressive 3-2 success at Molineux on Thursday night.

Ahead of tomorrow's home game with Preston, Evans admitted that eyebrows were raised in the Leeds camp at his decision to recall Bryam while his future remains unresolved.

But he said: "I have always been a manager to make a decision. I am not a manager afraid to make a decision.

"Young Sam has been good on the training ground for the last two weeks and I said to him that his chance is coming.

"But he is so good in attacking areas. He has to sign a contract. We can't just sit there and say the player controls the football club.

"We love the kid to bits and I have said before that if he comes home with my daughter I will be quite proud!

"He is such a nice kid that you want him to do well but we want him to commit to his future.

"As a manager you have to be true to yourself and my eyes were telling me to pick him.

"I want Sam to be at Leeds United more than anything. That is an issue for the boardroom and I am glad he has got a couple of goals.

"He has played really well and everyone in the dressing room is really pleased for him.

"When I told the owner (Massimo Cellino) the team at tea-time on Thursday he actually messaged me back and said he hopes Sam Byram gets two goals and is the man of the match."

Leeds had fallen behind to Benik Afobe's 10th-minute opener before Byram drew them level just before half-time. Stuart Dallas handed Leeds a 51st-miniute lead, with Byram striking again on the hour with a far post header before Nathan Byrne sparked hopes of a late Wolves fight-back in

the 81st minute.

Victory means Leeds are unbeaten in three games, having triumphed at home to Hull City and drawn away at Charlton.

Thursday's success at Wolves saw United leapfrog tomorrow's opponents Preston into 14th spot and another win could see them climb further in a congested mid-table.