Whites can still go up - Dickinson
Should his loan deal from Stoke City conclude as scheduled next week, Carl Dickinson will exit Leeds United believing he has left behind a club destined for the Championship this season.
The defender's future is up in the air with the loan agreement between Leeds and Stoke set to end on Tuesday night, but he has seen enough of Simon Grayson's squad in the past four weeks to feel confident that United's campaign will end in promotion.
Dickinson made his sixth appearance for Leeds during yesterday's West Yorkshire derby at Huddersfield Town, and United have been working to extend his temporary deal after a spell in which improved results have carried the club back in the direction of League One's play-off zone.
United won four of their five matches before the trip to the Galpharm Stadium, and Dickinson admitted that he could see in Leeds shades of the mood and momentum that grew at Blackpool two years ago while Grayson was manager of the Lancashire club.
The left-back completed two months of the 2006-07 campaign on loan at Blackpool from Stoke, and he was briefly part of a squad which went on to win 10 matches in succession at the end of the term, culminating in victory over Yeovil Town in the League One play-off final.
Grayson's appointment at Leeds in December has reversed the negative form which damaged United's league position under his predecessor, Gary McAllister, and the club had a welcome chance to climb back into League One's play-off positions for the first time in over two months during yesterday's match.
Asked whether he thought United would be promoted at the end of the season, Dickinson said: "I think so.
"People have seen what he (Grayson) did with Blackpool and Leeds are just as good a team as Blackpool were.
"There's no reason why Leeds can't go up and I think they should be going up.
"They've got players who can unlock teams, and the strength of the squad is important as well. For me, Leeds should definitely be up there come the end of the season.
"At Blackpool, (Grayson) made sure that his defence was tight and that we worked hard as a team.
"To be honest, with a group of good players, if they're working hard while playing their football then they'll always have a chance.
"I played in League One when I was at Blackpool so I know what it's all about.
"It's more of a battle down here but Leeds have got some really good players in their team.
"It's nice having guys around you who are good footballers."
Grayson sees Dickinson as one of the good footballers in his squad, and United's boss has been intent on keeping the full-back at Elland Road beyond his initial month-long loan.
Dickinson's future has always been likely to depend on the strength of the squad at Stoke – recent injuries and suspensions have reduced the number of players available to manager Tony Pulis – and City turned down a bid by Leeds to keep the defender until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old signed a new contract with Stoke before coming to Leeds, indicating that he was not surplus to Pulis' requirements in the long term, and he admitted that a return to the Britannia Stadium and the Premier League would be his preferred option – provided that City intended to use him in their first team.
Dickinson's last league appearance before his Leeds debut at Brighton on January 17 came almost four months earlier, and he would not rule out the option of staying at Elland Road if his immediate position under Pulis remained unchanged.
Dickinson said: "I know as much as everyone else really.
"I don't know what's happening and I'm here until the 17th when my loan finishes. What happens after that, I'm not quite sure.
"I'd love to go back to Stoke and see if I can play a few more Premier League games. But if things aren't going well at Stoke and I'm not playing and just sitting in the stand then I'd go anywhere to play football. All I want to do is play games.
"Since the start of the season I've only played a couple of (league) games for Stoke and featured in the cup games.
"Other than that, I wasn't too involved. Before I came to Leeds it was about three months since I'd played in the league.
"I was just happy to come here and play some games and it's done me the world of good.
"I feel sharper, I feel F***er and that's what getting through 90 minutes does for you."
Dickinson is eligible to play in Tuesday night's game between Leeds at Hereford United at Edgar Street, and his series of solid performances have underlined Grayson's desire to extend his loan.
Leeds have already succeeded in securing former loanee Richard Naylor on a permanent transfer from Ipswich Town, and Bristol City agreed on Monday to allow Lee Trundle to continue his temporary stay at Elland Road for a second month.
Dickinson was the third of three players recruited on loan by Grayson last month, and he took hold of the left-back position in United's team immediately after his arrival.
The clean sheet recorded in Monday's 2-0 win over Millwall was the club's third in five games, a pleasing contrast to the defensive problems experienced by Leeds before the January transfer window opened.
Dickinson said: "I've just been happy getting the chance to play games.
"If Leeds do want to keep me then it shows that I've been performing well, and if I stay here or go elsewhere then I can take that into whichever club I play for.
"If I do go back to Stoke and get the chance to play then I'll grab it with both hands. I'm raring to go."
YEP
