Leeds to recruit Villa youngster for promotion push

Leeds want Aston Villa’s talented young midfield star Barry Bannan to lead their bid for a Premier League return.

Boss Simon Grayson is keen to take the Scot on loan for the rest of the season after he slipped out of Gerard Houllier’s first-team picture.

Bannan was a big hit and won himself a new contract when Houllier gave his Villa youngsters a chance earlier in the season, but recently he has been pushed out of the side by senior stars.

Now Leeds are keen to land 21-year-old Bannan, who may be allowed to go to the Championship if Villa are knocked out of the FA Cup by Manchester City tomorrow.

Bannan is hoping for a cup recall but his best chance of playing ­regularly could be with a switch to Elland Road, where Grayson needs quality to secure a second ­successive promotion.