Last updated at 11:39, Tuesday, 09 February 2010

Jonny Howson admits that the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy is not a priority for his Leeds team-mates – but warned Carlisle United that they will still be up for the battle at Brunton Park.

The man whose double strike killed off Carlisle’s promotion bid two seasons ago will be out to inflict misery on the Cumbrians again in tonight’s cup showdown.

Howson will forever be associated with his play-off heroics at Brunton Park in 2008, and will be aiming for another famous comeback victory for the Elland Road outfit tonight.

The midfielder said: “That night stayed with me for quite a while. It felt special at the time and I guess it still is.

“Everyone knows what it meant to me but I don’t think about it much any more. It’s frustrating to think that we are still in the same division we were back then.

“Personally it was a great moment for me but if we are talking about the season as a whole then the only thing that mattered was us losing the play-off final at Wembley. In the end, the night at Carlisle meant nothing.”

Leeds’ overwhelming priority this season is to climb back into the Championship at the third attempt.

But Howson says nobody at Elland Road will turn their noses up at the chance of a cup final appearance at Wembley.

“It’s not our priority but that doesn’t mean we’re not bothered about it,” Howson said.

“We’ve been committed to winning it right from the start, just the same as promotion.

“It’s a chance to play at Wembley and the chance to lift a trophy. It’s not going to mean much if we don’t get out of League One, but there’s no reason why we can’t do both.”

Manager Simon Grayson is sweating on the fitness of star striker Jermaine Beckford (hamstring) and could pair Birmingham loan man Gary McSheffrey with Argentine ace Luciano Becchio in attack.

Defensive linchpin Patrick Kisnorbo is a doubt with a calf problem and Tresor Kandol, Shane Higgs and Ben Parker are also out.

But midfielder Neil Kilkenny could return from an ankle injury.

First published at 11:24, Tuesday, 09 February 2010
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk