After yesterday’s game between Brentford and Preston, I have come to the conclusion that Leeds are going to have to take care of their own business.

Clearly Brentford have turned into Barcelona during lockdown and no team they face can be relied upon to take points from them.

Sir Alex Ferguson referred to this stage of the season as “squeaky bum time”. While I find the club he once managed abhorrent, I cannot deny that this famous phrase is a fantastically accurate description of how thousands of fans are feeling right now.

Admittedly, thanks to Leeds, my stress levels have resulted in more extreme symptoms than simply a bottom that squeaks. How about “screeching arse time”?

Following Leeds’ fantastic victory on Sunday, it felt as if we had already been promoted.

I really hope that this isn’t a factor in the players’ approach to today’s match. I have a bad feeling about it. A very bad feeling. Mind you, I’ve had this feeling before every game recently…

QUESTION: Why is nothing ever straightforward when it comes to Leeds United?

ANSWER: Because they’re Leeds United.

I know exactly what you’re thinking right now… “those Christmas cracker jokes are getting worse every year!”.

If only it was a joke.

With Leeds having just three vital games of football remaining, it is absolutely typical of the club’s fortunes that one of their best players – Kalvin Phillips – will miss the remaining matches through injury.

Bollocks.

There is no way of hiding from the fact that Kalvin will be missed. A hospital operating theatre would struggle without a surgeon, as would an aeroplane with no pilot.

OK, I may be going a little over the top with those examples. The remaining players will cope and I see no reason why they won’t get the job done. Famous last words…

My greatest concern with the remaining games involves the goalkeeper…

You may recall my blog post from a few months back concerning the Leeds keeper, Kiko Casilla and his ban for racism. I made my thoughts on this matter perfectly clear in March.

Kiko’s ban lasted for eight matches. During this period, a young keeper by the name of Illan Meslier, filled the boots (or gloves) of Leeds’ once regular shot-stopper.

Meslier has done a fantastic job. If ever a player demonstrated they are capable of retaining their place in the team, he has done just that.

I worry switching such an important and influential figure now could potentially spell disaster.

Even more concerning is the racism cloud, which will now forever follow Kiko while he remains at Leeds.

When the ban was issued in March, George Floyd had not been tragically killed. The fantastic Black Lives Matter movement was therefore yet to explode across the globe.

Feelings against racists are incredibly raw at the moment. Reinstating a player found guilty of racism would be as much a P.R. disaster, as it would be contemptible.

I hope and pray that for the sake of Leeds United’s season – and therefore potentially future – as well as morality, that Kiko stays well away from match days.