Alex Bruce is set to make his Leeds United debut as manager Simon Grayson rings the changes for tonight’s Carling Cup tie against Lincoln City.

The former Ipswich defender was on the bench for Saturday’s 2-1 defeat by Derby County in which the defence looked shaky at times.

There might also be a place for goalkeeper Shane Higgs, defender Lubo Michalik and winger Andy Robinson but Davide Somma misses out on a chance to play against the side where he was on loan last season as he is still suspended.

Billy Paynter, Robert Snodgrass, Patrick Kisnorbo and Ben Parker are still injured, and Max Gradel is also suspended.

The League Cup has not always been the happiest of hunting grounds for Leeds – they have won the trophy only once, back in 1968.

Last season they reached the third round where they went out 1-0 at home to Liverpool.

Lincoln, who lost their season opener to Rotherham, have injury worries over defenders Adam Watts and Ian Pearce and it would be a major shock if Leeds failed to beat Chris Sutton’s League Two outfit.

The sides haven’t met since April, 1961 when Leeds won 7-0, and a Leeds victory will mean the Imps crash out of the competition for the fifth year in a row, having reached the second round only once in the last 13 years.