Jansson: These two Leeds stars are difficult to defend against in training

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Leeds United face Aston Villa in the Championship on Friday evening.

Leeds United defender Pontus Jansson has told Sky Bet’s Live Facebook Channel that Samu Saiz and Gjanni Alioski are the two most difficult players to defend against in training because they are “small”.

Sweden international Jansson and summer signing Alioski spoke on Thursday afternoon ahead of the Whites difficult clash against in-form Aston Villa, which takes place at Elland Road on Friday night.

Both Jansson and Alioski are expected to start, with the latter in his best form since arriving at Leeds from Swiss side FC Lugano after scoring four goals in his last four games including a superb curling effort last time out at Barnsley.

Former Torino and Malmo defender Jansson stated it is hard to mark the likes of Saiz and Alioski because they are small, before stating that both players have become invaluable to the club since they joined in the summer.

“The small guys,” Jansson said, when asked who he does not like to defend against in training. “Because when you play hard then you feel a bit bad because they’re so small. Gjanni and Samu Saiz, two good players, difficult to defend against them.

“I call them kids. They’re good signings for us, because they allow us to play out of defence. We give Samu the ball and that makes more space for everyone. We gave Pablo [Hernandez] the ball and expected things, but now we have more than Pablo.”

“There was a situation in the last game where he [Saiz] dribbled out of our box and lost the ball and I was close to killing him! He’s started to learn, and is getting better and better.”

Alioski has now managed five goals for the Whites this season, as well as adding four assists for the club in his 20 league and cup outings while Spaniard Saiz, who joined from Huesca, has scored nine times and laid on four assists.

The duo are likely to be crucial in Leeds’ clash against Steve Bruce’s Villa if the Yorkshire giants are to gain all three points, as they continue to provide the creative heartbeat to the Whites’ attack.

Three points and a second successive win would see the Whites move into the Championship play-offs prior to the weekend’s football, if they can overturn a three-goal deficit in goal difference separating the and Derby County.