Aside from Barcelona joining a long list of clubs that have poached our youngsters just as they become eligible for a professional contract, Leeds United news is so scarce at the minute the national rags have simply decided to make it up.

Today’s story, courtesy of the ever-reliable (ha) Daily Star claims Simon Grayson is preparing a swoop for former Elland Road centre back, Jonathan Woodgate. Once considered one of the world’s greatest central defenders, Woodgate has been ravaged by injuries and now finds himself almost unemployable.

The Daily Star claim that Simon Grayson sees Jonathan Woodgate as the ideal partner for Patrick Kisnorbo. One can only assume that the Daily Star think Kis and Woody will get on like a house on fire and provide ideal company for one another while they lay around on injury tables.

I’m not one to panic before a ball has been kicked, but if we really are pinning our defensive hopes on a partnership that is unlikely to manage a dozen combined appearances, then we really are doomed. I suspect there’ll be a few people reading this who’ve gotten all nostalgic and are romanticising over the idea of these two overcoming their injury problems to guide Leeds United to an almost flawless  Championship title, but the reality is, it’s never going to happen.