Nathan Jones is relishing the chance to face-off against Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa and the Argentine’s United team, which the Welshman considers the best in the Championship.
The Whites are proving him right as they are top of the league, eight points clear of third-placed Brentford and looking odds on for a return to the Premier League after 16 years.
Second-from-bottom Luton are three points from safety and aiming to avoid a return back to League One after just one year. They’re in good form, with 15 points from the last available 24.
Asked if he was looking forward to testing himself against a manager that has led Marseille, Lazio, Lille, the Hatters boss Jones said: “100 per cent. That’s why we firstly wanted to get to this level, to challenge ourselves against those things. The Championship is a wonderful league because tactically you have to be right.
“Even if you’re well-drilled and well-organised and talented, you can get punished at Championship level, I found that out.
“Coming up against Marcelo, he’s very unique, his sides play totally different to anyone else and they’re, for me, the most difficult side to play against in the Championship, so we will have to be on our game and with God’s will, we will be.”
Leeds were tipped for promotion last term, but slipped away toward the end of the season and fell foul of the play-offs, but they are aiming to avoid that fate again.
Jones said of United: “It’s the toughest test in the league, it has been all season, it was last year.
“Leeds are the best side in the Championship, and I don’t mean that with any disrespect to anyone else, but they don’t change, they come after you, they’re relentless, they play a certain way and if you’re not at it, then you don’t survive.
“What you have to do is make sure you defend well, work hard and take your chances, if you do that then you’ll have an opportunity.”
