Leeds United: Grayson's warning to Grella
Simon Grayson has expressed disappointment at Mike Grella's decision to reject another chance to leave Leeds United on loan.
Grella, who turned down a temporary deal with Oxford United at the end of the summer transfer window, is understood to have refused an offer from Bradford City in the past fortnight.
The League Two side, managed by the experienced Peter Taylor, agreed a deal with Leeds to take Grella to Valley Parade on a temporary basis, but the American striker opted to remain with his parent club despite his peripheral role at Elland Road.
Grella has not contributed to United's season since a brief appearance in last month's Carling Cup tie against Lincoln City, and Grayson has warned him that he is unlikely to see his opportunities increase in the near future.
The 23-year-old is more than a season into the three-year deal he received from Leeds in 2009 but is no closer to establishing himself as a regular first-team player, and Grayson has urged Grella to seriously consider future opportunities to move elsewhere.
The United boss said: "He had the opportunity to go out on loan and turned it down. That's disappointing.
"He needs a run of games and he tells me he needs a run of games.
"He's entitled to turn opportunities down and wait for something else to come along, and I've no problem with that, but he needs to play some football.
"He's feels that it's not quite right for him to go out at this time and I respect that but Grella's, pictured right, going to have to work hard to get back into my first-team plans."
Grayson, meanwhile, revealed that left-back Ben Parker – missing since April with a ruptured Achilles tendon – could play in a behind-closed-doors friendly next week.
Parker is training with United's youth team as part of his rehabilitation and is doing what Grayson called a "mini pre-season" after months on the sidelines.
Grayson said: "He's still going to be three or four weeks away if everything goes to plan."
