GARRY’S GETTING RIGHT BLEND AT LEEDS

NEW boss Garry Monk is confident he has finally found the solution to Leeds’ 12-year absence from the Premier League after marrying experience with youthful energy at Elland Road, writes David Bates. Following a promising start to his managerial career at Swansea, former defender Monk was sacked in December after mustering just one win from 11 games. The Leeds hotseat is unlikely to be an easy ride back into management – Monk, on a one-year rolling contract, became the seventh Leeds head coach in two years under Massimo Cellino’s turbulent ownership in June. The 37-year-old is hoping old heads will restore order, after bringing in Pablo Hernandez on-loan from Al-Arabi and former England goalkeeper Rob Green from today’s opponents QPR. Hernandez has four caps for Spain, over a hundred appearances for Valencia and knows Monk from his time at Swansea, where he was utilised in a variety of attacking positions. “Experience is what the group was lacking, it is a very young and talented squad, but with that little bit of lack of experience or leadership,” he said. “That is what I have tried to add to the group – as well as more young talented players. “The younger players will look at guys like Hernandez and Green and see they have had successful careers at a higher level and create the mentality needed if you want to progress to a higher level. “The players have been excellent, it is a lot of information in a short period that you try to get across. I can’t question their attitude and application. The real test will start on Sunday and the coming weeks. We’re looking forward to it.”