Leeds United's chances of securing a top-six finish in the Championship took another huge hit last Saturday when they were beaten 2-1 by Sheffield United in Paul Heckingbottom's first match in charge of the club.

Considering the Blades are also looking to secure a play-off position and were only two points ahead of the Whites at kick-off, the result was particularly disappointing and left the visitors once again looking unlikely to be in the mix for promotion to the Premier League at the end of the campaign.

However, they do still have 15 matches left and an opportunity to close the eight-point gap between them and sixth-place Bristol City when they host the Robins at Elland Road on Sunday, and Heckingbottom will be looking to pick up his first win in order to move his 11th-placed team up the standings as soon as possible.

The Yorkshire outfit still have plenty left to play for this term despite their poor form in recent weeks – including a number of league defeats and getting knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two opposition in Newport County – and there are a number of their players whose futures are also in severe doubt right now.

Those individuals will be fighting hard over the course of the next few months to prove to Heckingbottom that they have a future at Elland Road beyond the end of the current campaign.

Here are three Leeds players that have 15 Championship matches left to save their United careers…

Pablo Hernandez

While the Spaniard has become a real fans' favourite with Leeds supporters and has produced some magical moments in the past few seasons at Elland Road, his contract is due to expire this summer and there has been no progress with him signing a new one as of yet.

Despite his qualities, he turns 33 years of age in April and Heckingbottom and the club may prefer to bring in a younger attacking midfielder for the future rather than keep Hernandez.

The versatile attacker, who can play on either wing or in the No 10 role, was left on the substitutes' bench in the defeat against Sheffield United last weekend, and that may be a sign of things to come to suggest that he needs to fight in the final 15 matches to extend his stay with the Yorkshire outfit.

Hadi Sacko

The French winger joined Leeds on a permanent deal during the summer following a successful season-long loan spell at Elland Road last season, but he obviously failed to impress Thomas Christiansen after barely featuring under him throughout the campaign.

The 23-year-old has only made 10 Championship appearances in total this term – with nine of those coming from the substitutes' bench – for a total of 201 minutes, with the majority of his playing time coming in the FA Cup and League Cup.

He did come off of the bench against Sheffield United last weekend however, and he may need to prove to Heckingbottom that he has a future at the club if and when he is handed an opportunity in the final 15 league fixtures this season.

Pawel Cibicki

Cibicki was another that arrived on a permanent deal during the summer as Leeds looked to replace the goals of Chris Wood following his departure to Burnley, but like Sacko he barely had a look in under Christiansen.

The 24-year-old has only made 12 appearances in all competitions – and made just five starts in seven outings in the Championship – and he already looks to have a fight on to save his United career.

The Swedish attacker – who can play as a centre-forward or out wide – was an unused substitute against Sheffield United on Saturday, and he will need to impress Heckingbottom if he is given minutes on the pitch in the final 15 league games, otherwise he could be on his way in the summer.

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