Uwe Rosler expects Leeds to test promotion-chasing Middlesbrough

Eleventh-placed Leeds, meanwhile, can be backed at odds of 13-2 to repeat last season’s 1-0 victory at the Riverside but Rosler believes a lack of expectation may bring the best out of his Whites.

Rosler knows Middlesbrough are on a run of six straight wins, but has warned his team will not just roll over for the promotion favourites.

“We have proven that we have stabilised the ship – we are very, very hard to beat”, Rosler added.

“I think everybody in the Championship will agree with me that (head coach Aitor) Karanka did a very good job and (chairman) Steve Gibson is one of the best chairman in English football”. We always try to mean business.

A playful and relaxed Rosler in response to opening questions. “On Thursday, we had the day off and (on Friday) I haven’t spoken to him, but (on Saturday) I will speak with him again”.

“When everybody is available and we are in good form, I think we can cause problems to any opposition in our league”.

“When you see our first eight games, we played a lot of teams who have come down from the Premier League or were in the play-offs last season”.

Byram is one of a number of highly-rated young players at Elland Road right now, which includes the likes of Alex Mowatt, Chris Wood, Lewis Cook and Charlie Taylor.

Rosler will make a late decision on whether to include Sam Byram in his starting line-up following mounting speculation over the winger’s future and could hand recent signing Jordan Botaka his first appearance.

One Boro player hoping for a recall to the starting line-up is former Leeds midfielder Adam Clayton.