Left-back crisis for McAllister
Leeds United today received confirmation that Irishman Alan Sheehan is banned for three matches following his straight red card for a challenge on Lee Peltier of Yeovil Town on Friday evening.
Consequently, Sheehan misses the game against Gillingham on Saturday and the Play-Off semi-finals.
“I can’t defend him,” commented Gary McAllister on the official Leeds site. ”It’s a poor challenge, especially in today’s game. You can’t put two feet off the ground in a tackle.
“He knows it and it’s very disappointing. He’s worked himself back into the side and done well. He’s very disappointed.
“He’s already had a suspension for 10 bookings and we’ll miss him for three games now.”
Sheehan is on loan from Leicester City and these substantial suspensions will harm his prospects of earning a full-time move to Elland Road in the summer. Sheehan is relatively young and hopefully will grow out of “youthful” indescretions.
His dismissal presents more immediate problems for McAllister who must choose between Andrew Hughes or Darren Kenton for the left-back berth against Gillingham and the Play-Offs. Ben Parker is not available for the Gillingham match due to suspension but is unlikely to be recalled from a loan spell Darlington for the Play-Off semi-finals - logically if you’re not good enough for the team during the regular season you’re certainly not good enough for the Play-Offs!
