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Former Leeds United striker, Michael ‘Sicknote’ Bridges will not be appearing in the blue shirt of Carlisle United on Saturday, when the Cumbrians take on Leeds United at Brunton Park, …because he’s injured.

Bridges, who has just celebrated his thirtieth birthday in August, managed just 82 games (including subs) for Leeds United in an injury-blighted five years at Elland Road.

Bridges left Leeds at the end of a contract which coincided with our relegation from the Premier League. Though Bridges wasn’t there to witness the relegation as the North Shields-born striker asked permission to join Newcastle United on loan in an attempt to get a permanent deal for the next season - a sort of, “so long and thanks for all the medical bills” departure.

Ironically, not only did the Newcastle-supporting Bridges fail at the Barcodes but he signed for Bolton who then loaned him to Newcastle’s bitter rivals Sunderland for the following season! The irony continued as Sunderland, (the club from which Leeds had originally signed Bridges), were then a Championship side and Bridges’ first game for the Black Cats was at Elland Road against relegated-Leeds! Bridges was an 81st minute substitute in a 1-0 win over Leeds.

The last time Bridges played against Leeds United was in Hull’s 2-1 Championship home defeat to Leeds in January 2007, when again he was a substitute.

Now Bridges is on loan to Carlisle United from Premier League Hull City and has suffered a hamstring injury in a Carlisle United reserve match recently. So the travelling Leeds fans will not see the player whose career they saved by paying for four years of the finest medical treatment available in the world. Let’s hope he remembers to give them a wave at least.

See Leeds United v Rotherham United on Sky Sports - will Beckford get another hat-trick?

Alan Sheehan has paid the price for the red card that he received for a reckless, two-footed tackle in only the 8th minute of the game against Swindon Town at their County Ground last Saturday.

The Irish, U-21 international, left-back has been given a three match ban for what was his second red card in a Leeds United shirt. The first red card, at the end of last season whilst on loan from Leicester City, cost him his place in the team and he didn’t play in the play-off final against Doncaster Rovers because of it.

In the competitive squad that Gary McAllister has assembled Sheehan may once again find that he has lost his place to Bradley Johnson, who replaced him in the final.

Three games is a lot to miss at this stage of the season and it is an opportunity that will be grapsed with both hands by one of his colleagues.

Leeds have decide not to appeal against the red card after seeing replays of the tackle.

Despite the sending-off Leeds United went on to win the game comfortably, even with just ten men.

Football Maestro 2008-09 now available!

Highly-rated Fabian Delph signed a new four-year contract with Leeds United on Friday.

The 18-year-old has been attracting attention with his performances this season and Leeds have moved quickly to secure his services before Chelsea hear about him (or Wise’s Newcastle United!)

Gary McAllister spoke to the official Leeds United website about the deal and admitted there had been clubs sniffing around already:

“There’s been a lot of exciting things happen in the world of football this week what with West Ham, Newcastle and Manchester City, but the most exciting thing for me is securing Fabian Delph on a four-year deal”

“He’s someone we rate highly. It’s an opportunity for us to work with him and a great opportunity for him.

“There’s been a lot of high profile interest in Fabian which has been kept quiet.

“There’s been some big clubs asking about his availability, but this has sent out a message.

“The club is moving forward now. We recognise producing our own is one way to do that, and he is a fantastic product of the Academy.

“He has to keep moving forward. He has some good people here advising him, and it’s up to him.

“He has a big armoury. He’s a young man, and you tend to improve with age.

“As a former midfielder I’ll pass on anything I can to help him.

“This also sends out a message to the other players in our Academy that If you’re good enough you’ll progress into the first team.”

Leeds United finally got their first home league win of the season by demolishing Crewe Alexandra.

Before the game the talk was of how much damage former Leeds striker Anthony Elding was going to do to Leeds United in the shirt of his new employer’s Crewe Alexandra.

But as it turned out it was teenage sensation Fabian Delph who made the impact in the game - he celebrated his new four year contract by scoring Leeds’ opener with a 30-yard shot. Young Alan Sheehan scored a second with another long range effort before Jonathan Douglas rubbed in Leeds’ superiority with a third.

Jermaine Beckford headed in a fourth - his eighth in seven games and Andy Robinson curled in the fifth goal, a just reward having hit the Crewe bar with a lob minutes before.

However, the game went sour for Leeds in injury time when Leeds’ Lubo Michalik was sent off in for violent conduct and Crewe took advantage of their numerical superiority to score twice: Calvin Zola headed in from a free-kick and Eugene Bopp added a second consolation goal with a fluky deflection. It was the first time David Lucas, favoured over Casper Ankergren, had had to touch the ball all afternoon.

So a sad end to a terrific performance by Leeds United, a result that us them into a play-off position in League One.

Leeds United: Lucas, Richardson, Michalik, Telfer, Sheehan, Hughes (Howson 64), Kilkenny (Robinson 65), Douglas, Delph, Beckford, Becchio (Snodgrass 69). 
Subs Not Used: Ankergren, Prutton.

Sent Off: Michalik (90).

Booked: Michalik, Delph.

Goals: Delph 26, Sheehan 36, Douglas 49, Beckford 67, Robinson 82.

Crewe Alexandra: Collis, Woodards, O’Donnell, Baudet, Jones, Moore, Bailey, Rix (Bopp 63), Schumacher, Elding (Donaldson 63), Zola. 

Subs Not Used: Abbey, Pope, Miller.Booked: Baudet.

Goals: Zola 90, Bopp 90.

Att: 20,075

Ref: Trevor Kettle (Rutland).