Leeds will tomorrow attempt to end a five-match victory famine – their worst run since Gary McAllister lost his job in December, 2008 – and current manager Simon Grayson says he and his players can’t wait for the kick-off.

Visitors Colchester United were one of the teams to win at Elland Road during that dreadful run just over a year ago and return with former Leeds coach Aidy Boothroyd looking to put one over his old club and boost the U’s own promotion prospects.

When Grayson took over from McAllister he ended a five-match losing run with a 1-1 draw against Leicester and until the latest blip it has been pretty much success all the way for the former Blackpool boss, who now faces the biggest test of his Elland Road reign.

He said: “We are not downbeat. Confidence levels are still high and the game can’t come quickly enough for us.

“We are learning all the time – I certainly learned a lot from the draw at Spurs in the cup and the defeat at Swindon in the league. Now we have 20 league games left to achieve our chief aim of promotion.

“It was hard mentally to come from the high of the Tottenham game to the match at Swindon so soon afterwards. Whether it was mental or physical fatigue, it can happen to the best of teams, but we are ready to put right what went wrong.”

Grayson, who was angered by his team’s “unacceptable” display in the 3-0 defeat at Swindon, hinted at changes and skipper Richard Naylor could return to shore up the defence if he recovers in time from the hamstring trouble that kept him out against Spurs and Swindon.

The manager said: “If there is any doubt about his fitness he won’t play but we need the likes of Richard Naylor back because he has been a big influence for us.”

Tresor Kandol and Ben Parker are still missing with hamstring injures and goalkeeper Shane Higgs’ thigh problem continues to keep him out.

David Prutton, who scored on his debut for Colchester on Tuesday night in their 2-0 win over MK Dons, was sent off for two bookable offences in Leeds’ home defeat against Colchester last season but a condition of his loan deal prevents the midfielder from playing tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Grayson is trying to extend Liverpool goalkeeper David Martin’s loan spell until the end of the season.