Yellow peril: Wood pilfered two goals against Reading

Leeds would be top of the league if this player was fit claims Evans

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Published on:

07 Mar 2016, 2:02 pm

By Coral Barry

Steve Evans has suggested that if striker Chris Wood had been fit all season Leeds would have been challenging for the Championship title.

Leeds ended a run of ten league games without a win on Saturday when they edged past relegation-battlers Bolton 2-1 at Elland Road.

Evans' position as manager has come under increasing threat in recent weeks as Leeds have plummeted down the table.

Leeds could welcome back top goalscorer Wood on Tuesday against Cardiff and Evans has claimed the Whites would be much further up the table if their star striker had been fit all season.

"He's got nothing to prove though, and certainly not to me," said Evans speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post about Wood's possible return. "I think he's a top player in this league and people have seen the difference when he's been in the team.

"I keep saying it but Burnley have had Andre Gray free from injury all season and they're top of the league.

"It was difficult for Birmingham when Clayton Donaldson was out and against us [in December]Hull had chances which Abel Hernandez would probably have taken if he’d been fit.

"A player like Chris is massive for anyone. It'll make a big difference to us having him back."

Wood has missed nine league games this season due to injury and the last five because of a hamstring problem, although his record of eight goals pales into comparison to Gray.

Fighting fit: Evans revealed Woody is on the comeback trail

Without Wood: Evans thinks Burnley would be in a similar position to Leeds without Gray

Burnley are a point clear at the top of the table and star man Andre Gray has missed just two league games all campaign.

Gray has smashed in 21 goals and provided eight assists in a wonderful first season for the Clarets.

Leeds, who sit 16th in the table and a full 27 points behind Burnley, have hit the net just three times during his most recent absence.

In other Leeds news, tycoon Steve Parkin has revealed why he has no plans to make a new bid for the club.

Birmingham City

Leeds United

Championship

Chris Wood

Andre Gray