Kilkenny played a full game during the week as the Whites lost 2-1 to Derby County to all but slip out of the automatic promotion race.

But Leeds remain in the playoffs places in sixth, with five games to play.

Kilkenny, who played in the Premier League with Birmingham City earlier in the career, told the Yorkshire Evening Post the Whites could turn their form around.

“There’s going to be pressure on us and we’re in the run-in with a few other teams,” Kilkenny said.

“It’s all about who handles the pressure and hopefully we can.

“If we go on a run now and win five games, everyone will turn around and say ‘Leeds have great momentum for the play-offs'.

“We need to take it game by game but also try to do that.”

Leeds remain five points behind fifth-placed Reading, while they are one point ahead of seventh-placed Nottingham Forest who play third-placed Norwich City on Friday.

Kilkenny's Whites host 11th-placed Watford at Elland Road on Saturday.