The Sun are today reporting a return of the old guard to Elland Road, with Paul Robinson and Jermaine Beckford both being linked.

Both players are out-of-contract but won’t be short of offers, particularly Beckford who scored a hattrick in the League One play-off final, adding to the three he’d scored in the semi-finals.

Beckford, who has enjoyed a return to form at Preston North End under former Whites boss Simon Grayson, has been hotly linked with a return to the club for a while now.

The 31-year-old, who’s also had spells with Everton, Leicester City and Bolton Wanderers, scored 84 goals for Leeds United in 154 appearances between 2005 and 2010, including a memorable one at Old Trafford in the FA Cup and the goal that clinched our promotion back to the Championship v Bristol on the final day of the 2010 season, his final act before leaving the club to join Everton.

In the Premier League with Everton. Beckford managed 10 in 40 appearances, recording a similar average at Leicester and Bolton before an impressive season with Preston in which he’s scored 18 in 31.

Since his transfer to Leeds in 2005, Beckford has scored a total of 156 goals in 368 appearances in all competitions, at varying levels of football.

There’s no explanation needed for why Leeds might be attracted to Beckford, it’s clear the Whites require strengthening in attack after our top goalscorer last season barely managed to break double-figures, but Paul Robinson is a more curious link given how well Marco Silvestri performed in his debut season and the reluctance I’d expect of the former England goalkeeper to move to any club who won’t be making him number one.

Robinson’s not getting any younger of course, but 35 isn’t a bad age for a keeper. Mark Schwarzer was still playing regularly in the Premier League with Fulham when he turned 40 and plenty of other names – Van Der Sar, Brad Friedel, Jens Lehmann – have hit 40 as Premier League regulars.

While Robinson isn’t setting 40 as a target just yet, he was quoted earlier in the season as saying he’s got another couple of years in him and would leave Blackburn in search of first team football.

“I’m pretty much surplus to requirements at Blackburn. I’m not even on the bench. I’m training hard at the moment though. My contract is up at the end of the season so I’m not sure if that’s got anything to do with it. I want to keep playing and, I believe, I’ve got another two or three years left in me.”

I think it’s safe to conclude that Paul Robinson’s search for a new club will be limited to those offering him the number one shirt, so if he does sign for Leeds United, Marco Silvestri may see his first team opportunities limited – which is bound to be frustrating for a youngster who impressed in his debut season.