Thomas Christiansen unconcerned by mounting pressure at Leeds United

Leeds United boss Thomas Christiansen is confident he retains the backing of owner Andrea Radrizzani, despite speculation he is on the brink of becoming the latest managerial casualty at Elland Road.

The Whites have lost six of the last seven Championship games and accordingly dropped out of the play-off positions, leading to reports that Radrizzani is becoming frustrated by the situation and is considering a change just three months into the season.

Former owner Massimo Cellino sacked six managers during three years as Leeds owner, with Christiansen installed as coach after Garry Monk opted to leave at the end of last term.

Fifth-place Middlesbrough, managed by Monk, travel to west Yorkshire this weekend as the club look to claim their first home league win since September. But Christiansen believes the long-term vision held by the club will prevent a knee-jerk reaction.

"I hope this break will turn the results again but we will continue working hard to change this negative run that we have had," the Leeds coach said, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"I said a bad run would come. We are making a project of several years where almost everyone is new in this, starting from the chairman and the sporting director.

"Our target is still to be in the top six. I would have preferred to have had a game after the defeat but on the other hand you have time to think about things.

"It has not been so nice but we all know that you have good moments and bad moments. If you don't care, that would be a big problem.

"It [pressure] depends on which club you are with, which chairman you have and which project you are working on."

Christiansen's hopes of breathing new life into his Leeds career has been galvanised by the return to full fitness of summer signing Caleb Ekluban, while Stuart Dallas is also 100% for the visit of Boro.

Ekuban broke a bone in his foot on his second Leeds appearance against Sunderland on 19 August and has not played since, while Dallas suffered a bruised foot while playing for Northern Ireland in their World Cup play-off defeat to Poland.

"I am very pleased," Christiansen said of Ekuban. "He has been working for two or three weeks now without any problems and going every day better. "He will probably have a possibility to be in the squad. [Dallas] returned with some small problem but this was several days ago and he is good now."