Exclusive: Brian Deane on Leeds United, Sheffield United, Sunderland, Willy Gnonto and more | OneFootball

FLW spoke exclusively to Brian Deane via Champions League Odds to get his thoughts on all things Leeds United and Sheffield United.

Brian Deane is a former Sheffield United and Leeds United star, and is set to watch two of his most beloved sides do battle on Friday night at Elland Road in a titanic Championship fixture.

The former Premier League striker has long since retired but had two separate stints with the Whites and three spells at the Blades. He played more games for those two sides than any other but is also renowned for his time with the likes of Middlesbrough, Doncaster Rovers, and Leicester City as well.

He's still fondly remembered at many of the clubs he plied his trade for, but Deane, speaking exclusively to Football League World via the home of Champions League Odds, has outlined his thoughts on Leeds United against Sheffield United, the promotion race out of the Championship, impressive players so far and much more.

Brian Deane on Leeds United and Sheffield United's promotion chances

Deane revealed that Leeds and Sheffield United are his favourites for automatic promotion from the second tier this season. He said: "Yeah, I think so. You also have a couple of other teams that have started well, like Sunderland, and there’s usually a dark horse.

"I think if you look at the season Leeds had last year, they will have learned a lot from how that season ended, and will have reviewed and looked at places where they need to be stronger this season. For me, this season they’re playing with a lot of pace and dynamism so far this season, and you need that dynamism if you’re going to do something in this division, but also have some very good technical players.

"I think it’s just if they can get the balance right, and I think I’d love to see a little more physicality in there, as there will be games in the season where they’re playing teams who just want to come and have a physical battle with them and if they can overcome that, then their quality will show.

"I wonder, come January, if they’re going to need somebody to do that, with the lesson from last year of looking at what they need come the end of the season and what they need to get over the line, and not look too predictable.

Brian Deane outlines Leeds' squad depth issue

Deane explained that Leeds' current injury woes could be what costs them in the long run, given the lack of squad depth within their side. He explained Ipswich's strength last season could be Sheffield United's this time around.

He said: "It is [an issue]. Teams that get promoted from The Championship tend to do so because they have lots of different options.

"That’s an area when the football becomes scrappy and Leeds can’t play that free-flowing football, and have to find a way to win.

"Look at Ipswich last year bringing in Kieffer Moore. They had a couple of options with George Hirst also scoring, and it allowed them to look at their opposition and assess what they needed on the day, and having that flexibility at the end of the season definitely helps you pick up points.

"Someone like Kieffer Moore, you don’t have to play that type of footballer every week, but you need somebody as a different type of option to open up defences, and Sheffield United have jumped on that. He gives them a different option to what everyone else does, and answers questions that they didn’t have the answers to before."

There are also other sides in the race for promotion, and we asked Deane for his thoughts on any other Championship teams vying for promotion, with Sunderland one of the teams impressing him so far.

He said: "If you look at the way that Sunderland have started the season, you certainly can’t discount them. They’ve got 49,000 fans in the stadium up there and football is a religion up there.

"We have seen teams get promoted out of the Championship with momentum like they have, and if you’re a travelling team it can be very difficult with that amount of fans up there, and be very hostile!

"I didn’t know anything about him (Regis Le Bris) but he is obviously doing something right up there that is a little different up there that is working, and the players have definitely bought into it. The way that they are playing with enthusiasm, things are looking great for them, and it definitely looks like a campaign that they can have a lot of fun in."

Brian Deane has been most impressed with Willy Gnonto for Leeds

Willy Gnonto's form has caught the eye of Deane so far, who believes he will be playing top-flight football in the near future, he said: "To be fair to him, when he had the issues at the start of last season, he was a young kid. From what I’ve seen of Gnonto, he’s a fantastic player, small and powerful, very technical and he has scored some great goals.

"I think people need to understand that young players can be inconsistent, but from what I’ve seen of him, he has such a calm head and always plays with a smile which I’m sure will be infectious for the rest of the squad. I hope that it is his last season in the Championship, and I hope that next season he is playing Premier League football for Leeds.

"It's hard to say what the ceiling is with the difference between the Championship and Premier League. The jump catches a lot of people out, so it may take a bit of adjusting but he has all the tools – he is strong, quick and bright, and these are all the attributes that you need in the top-flight.

"He’s good in tight situations, hard to mark and did well in the Premier League before, and if he goes into the Premier League with Leeds, he is going to be one hell of an asset."

Brian Deane's standout players in the Championship so far

We asked Deane for his thoughts on any other standout players in the Championship, particularly from either of Leeds or Sheffield United. He added: "From what I’ve seen, I would say Gnonto [has been Leeds' best player]. I’m also a big fan of pace, and think Dan James has contributed some good assists and goals too.

"I like the young forward Mateo Joseph, but he will need support, perhaps if they can get Patrick Bamford fit, but they need someone who is just going to be there for 40 games.

"I think [Gustavo] Hamer has been good, and I like the big presence of Kieffer Moore up front, and I think Sheffield United have a better rounded squad at the moment. The other lad from Palace (Jesurun Rak-Sakyi) on loan has looked really good, and a really astute move bringing him in."