Post by Taxigirl on Jan 28, 2006 9:53:12 GMT
www.leedsunited.com
United midfielder Eirik Bakke begins his bid for a first team place today by returning to full training after overcoming his hamstring injury.
The Norwegian international is back at Thorp Arch after Aston Villa cut short his loan spell due to financial reasons, but he returned with a slight injury and, due to transfer regulations, is not able to play for the club until February.
The 28-year-old made 14 appearances for former Leeds boss David O'Leary at Villa Park and was beginning to show some of the form that marked him out as one of the Premiership's brightest prospects before spending the best part of the past two seasons out injured.
Shaun Derry, Liam Miller and Jonathan Douglas have emerged as key midfielders for Leeds during Bakke's absence, and Blackwell is warning Bakke that he will have to work extra hard if he expects to replace any of them in the starting line-up.
He said:"The club has been doing well all season and having Eirik back is great, it gives me an extra player, but he knows he comes back and is on a level playing field with the rest of them.
"All I am interested in is players who will improve the football club, and whether they do that in training or on the pitch remains to be seen.
"His coming back doesn't mean he will automatically get in the team, he has to make sure he works hard and if he does then we know he's got the ability and it might be the little extra that we might need."
Eirik made three appearances for United before his loan spell at Aston Villa began in September.
United midfielder Eirik Bakke begins his bid for a first team place today by returning to full training after overcoming his hamstring injury.
The Norwegian international is back at Thorp Arch after Aston Villa cut short his loan spell due to financial reasons, but he returned with a slight injury and, due to transfer regulations, is not able to play for the club until February.
The 28-year-old made 14 appearances for former Leeds boss David O'Leary at Villa Park and was beginning to show some of the form that marked him out as one of the Premiership's brightest prospects before spending the best part of the past two seasons out injured.
Shaun Derry, Liam Miller and Jonathan Douglas have emerged as key midfielders for Leeds during Bakke's absence, and Blackwell is warning Bakke that he will have to work extra hard if he expects to replace any of them in the starting line-up.
He said:"The club has been doing well all season and having Eirik back is great, it gives me an extra player, but he knows he comes back and is on a level playing field with the rest of them.
"All I am interested in is players who will improve the football club, and whether they do that in training or on the pitch remains to be seen.
"His coming back doesn't mean he will automatically get in the team, he has to make sure he works hard and if he does then we know he's got the ability and it might be the little extra that we might need."
Eirik made three appearances for United before his loan spell at Aston Villa began in September.