Who are the unsung heroes in this high-flying Leeds United side?

Leeds United are agonisingly close to a long-awaited return to the Premier League. And most of the credit thus far has gone to manager Garry Monk, who looks to have given the club some much needed stability after a five-year period which has seen seven managers come and go.

Of course, there’s been plenty of attention on star striker Chris Wood, too. He’s come on leaps and bounds under Monk, and is well on course to double his previous best tally in front of goal which stood at 13.

Currently on 22 strikes with nine games still to play, the 25-year-old looks cracking value at 8/11 for the Championship Golden Boot.

Pablo Hernandez has stood out to both fans and pundits alike, chipping in with four goals and an impressive eight assists in the league so far this year.

But enough about the people stealing the headlines, it’s time to look at some of the unsung heroes in this side.

Ladbrokes News has picked out three players who’ve impressed us plenty since the first ball was kicked way back in August…

Rob Green

Take 10 years off Green and he’d arguably be one of the most sought after goalkeepers in the country.

After a horrible ending to his stint at Queens Park Rangers, the 37-year-old arrived at Elland Road with a point to prove. Supporters will probably hold their hands up and say they weren’t expecting all that much from the veteran shot-stopper, but he’s played every game so far this season and has 13 clean sheets to his name already.

The Yorkshire outfit have conceded just 36 goals this campaign – only joint-league leaders Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United have shipped in fewer.

It’s no coincidence that Leeds have been so solid defensively whilst having the former England number one in-between the sticks.

Green also provides an experienced head, having won promotion three times already in his career. He could be crucial in this run-in.

Kyle Bartley

Almost Leicester City-esque in their approach to this campaign, Leeds have taken a handful of reliable players who were struggling for game-time elsewhere, and have moulded them into a team eager to prove the doubters wrong.

And Kyle Bartley certainly falls into that category.

The former Arsenal youth product just couldn’t break into the first-team at Swansea City, and had just 14 top-flight appearances to speak of in his last three years with the Welsh outfit.

But having worked with the defender at the Liberty Stadium, Monk was quick to add Bartley to his ranks at Leeds on a season-long loan deal.

And the versatile 25-year-old has missed just 90 minutes of league football this season, captaining the side on 17 occasions.

That makes this Bartley’s most productive season in professional football – and it’s worrying to think where this Leeds side would be without him.

Don’t be surprised if this turns into a permanent deal in the summer.

Kemar Roofe

Perhaps one of the success stories of the season, Roofe stepped up two divisions back in the summer, having stood out for Oxford United in League Two last campaign.

He netted a staggering 18 goals for the U’s last year, and while he’s some way off that tally this time out, he’s settled into the first-team nicely.

It’s been a gradual process into the starting XI, having featured from the bench in nine of his first 11 league games for Leeds.

But since then, his boss has clearly seen enough to warrant regular selections.

The former West Bromwich Albion youth product has repaid Monk’s faith too, netting three goals and providing five assists thus far.

At £2.9m, Roofe was Leeds’ most expensive signing of the summer, and so far it’s safe to say he’s living up to his price tag.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing