Chris Kavanagh has been appointed as referee for Sunday’s trip to Millwall, which has Leeds United a bit worried on two fronts – the first being the three games he took charge of involving Leeds last season.
Kavanagh, 38, has only refereed one game this season – and that came in League Two, when MK Dons drew with Notts County.
The Mail reported this week that referee Kavanagh’s physical condition has been closely examined.
It is claimed he has just passed the fitness mark to once again referee to Premier League standards.
He was running VAR for Manchester United’s match with Brighton on Saturday.
So it looks like Kavanagh will return to the Premier League with a Test Championship clash between rivals Leeds and Millwall.
A fiery atmosphere is expected at The Den on Sunday.
But the appointment shouldn’t just raise eyebrows among Leeds fans simply because of his fitness.
This also causes concern, based on his form when refereeing for us last season – three games, three defeats.
Indeed, Kavanagh was responsible for the 1-0 loss to Arsenal – and somehow Arsenal won thanks to Bukayo Saka’s penalty.
Patrick Bamford missed the kick.
Next was a 0-2 defeat to Fulham in the FA Cup.
A game in which Georginio Rutter should have scored – and did, only for Kavanagh to bizarrely foul Weston McKennie from the same corner.
Then came a 4-1 defeat to Bournemouth, Javi Gracia’s last match.
So it’s not just Kavanagh’s fitness that’s worrying, but our recent history with Kavanagh in the middle is also not good.
Let’s hope this series is over and we get our second three points of the season.