McSheffrey, 27, is much better known, of course, having cost Birmingham £4million from Coventry in 2006, and he left the field to a standing ovation as well as taking the sponsors’ man of the match champagne.
He would have marked his debut with a goal had Beckford not inadvertently blocked the winger’s apparently goal-bound volley, the ball looping over the bar.
McSheffrey joked: “Jermaine was their best player today and a good goalkeeper! I caught it well and just wanted to see that net ripple but I am sure my first goal will come.â€
McSheffrey added: “It was nice to get a game and it was a good performance from the lads. It wasn’t the prettiest of games but we did what we had to do. In the second half the game settled a bit and we played some good stuff, created some good chances and deserved the win.
“I haven’t had much football lately but I felt good. The manager was being cautious and 80 minutes or so was fine for my first game in a while. I thought our defence was magnificent – the centre halves were bang-on.
“From what I’ve seen so far, Leeds can definitely stay up there and win promotion. There’s good competition for places too. Neil Kilkenny missed the game injured but I played with him at Birmingham and he’s a good little player.
“For the first 20 minutes I wondered what I had done coming here because I never saw the ball – it was in the air so long – but this move is huge for me. It is no secret that I had tendonitis in my knee last season and had an operation to cure it in April. This season I’ve been fine, I haven’t missed a training session and need to get myself back in the shop window.
“For a player as hungry and determined as I am it is massive to get back in the mix and make a name for myself. Initially I am on loan until the end of the season and we will take it from there. I would love to score some goals and help Leeds clinch promotion. That’s the short term aim, then we’ll see what the summer brings.
“My contract at Birmingham is up in the summer but they have a two-year option. Sitting on the bench at Birmingham, albeit in the Premier League, is not good for me.
“If Leeds secure promotion this year there would be no better club to be with at Championship level because the manager has the backing of the board and chairman to make improvements by bringing in good players for the Championship who could kick on from there.
“People see I’ve played nine times for Birmingham this season but most of those were from the bench, so it has been frustrating. I would rather be at a club like this and be a big part of the plans, striving for promotion from this league and from the Championship than being a part-time player at a big Premiership club. I just want to be playing.
“It was a gamble and a risk coming to League One but if most games turn out like today’s it will be a risk worth taking.â€
