LEEDS United reckon it will be business as usual during the transfer window, despite owner Massimo Cellino appealing against an 18-month suspension by the FA after being found guilty of breaching regulations regarding agents.

Ahead of today's match against Preston and former manager Simon Grayson, United boss Garry Monk, who has chatted with Cellino about where the club need to strengthen next month, suggests the ban and appeal will have little bearing on what they do.

"I shouldn't think it would affect anything," said Monk, whose team have won seven of their last nine in the Sky Bet Championship.

"With the owner, like in the summer, we work very closely to make sure that we get the right players into the club. "Of course, I'm sure it will be the same in January. I've made it aware what I feel the squad needs, the owner knows that, he thinks along the same lines as me, as we did in the summer, and hopefully we can recruit the right players." United, who are fifth in the table, could have leading scorer Chris Wood back after he missed last week's home win over Brentford due to a hamstring strain.

Pablo Hernandez, who returned to full training last week after being sidelined since mid-October with a hamstring problem, could also be included in the squad, as could club captain Liam Bridcutt for what would be his first start since September after recovering from a fractured bone in his foot.

Fellow midfielder Eunan O'Kane will also be assessed after missing the last four games due to a groin injury, and left back Charlie Taylor is another who will be monitored after he sustained an Achilles injury last weekend.

Meanwhile, centre back Liam Cooper has revealed that Monk focused on defending set-pieces in pre-season.

The former Swansea boss Monk took charge in the summer, and they have looked extremely resilient from corners and free-kicks.

Cooper, who has made only 12 appearances so far this season, has had to wait for his chance behind regular pairing Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley but has proved to be a strong replacement in the absence of either, said: "You can see from the defending, we’ve conceded a lot less goals from set plays."