Leeds are making great strides under manager Garry Monk this season, and are well-placed to mount a serious promotion push in the second half of the Championship season.

Monk’s men are fourth in the table having won 13 of their 24 games so far, with their latest coming courtesy of a 4-1 win over Preston on Boxing Day.

That victory was their third successive one in the league, and their 1-1 draw away at Aston Villa means that they have a slender three-point lead over seventh place Derby County, who are one of many clubs hoping to break into the top six come May.

Leeds host Rotherham at Elland Road on Monday looking to maintain their good form by stretching their unbeaten run to five games, and they’ll fancy their chances against the league’s bottom side, who have lost 17 of their 24 league matches this term..

In what has been an excellent first half of the season at Leeds, several players have performed brilliantly for the Whites, and some may even be attracting interest from the Premier League ahead of the January transfer window.

Thus, here are TWO Leeds players who deserve a move to the top-flight in January…

Pontus Jansson

Pontus Jansson is on loan from Torino for the current season, yet it wouldn’t be at all surprising if a Premier League club kept an eye on his progress over January.

That’s because the Swedish international has been outstanding at the back for Monk’s men so far this season.

The 25-year-old made his debut in Leeds’ sixth game of the season at home to Huddersfield, and has since then been an ever-present in the side, starting 18 games for the Whites in their climb up the Championship table.

Jansson has helped the side keep seven clean sheets in his 18 league appearances, and in that time they have conceded just 14 goals.

The centre-back will be an integral part of Leeds’ promotion push should he remain in Yorkshire, but his excellent form is likely to have a few top-flight clubs circling Elland Road next month.

Chris Wood

Chris Wood has always been a decent striker, but this season he has taken it up another level.

The New Zealand international has scored 14 goals in 27 games for Leeds so far this season, including six in his last ten in all competitions.

It means that this season is already his most prolific in front of goal and, although he didn’t get on the score-sheet in the 4-1 win over Preston on Boxing Day, he provided the assist for Pablo Hernandez’s late strike.

Wood has been a nuisance to several Championship defences this season and, although he had an unsuccessful time in the Premier League before with Leicester, the 25-year-old is clearly a much better forward now than he was back then.

He is in great form, is confident in front of goal, and leads the line brilliantly for Leeds, and could be an invaluable addition to any Premier League side in desperate need of goals.