Eddie Gray is confident Johnson, 21, is good enough to handle the job. The Whites must win if they are to hold out any hope of hanging on in the Premiership. Johnson's only other start for Leeds came on the final day of last season in the 3-1 win over Aston Villa at Elland Road. Since then he has made four appearances as substitute. Gray said: "He’s been banging in the goals and showing good form for the reserves, so that should give him confidence. It is an opportunity for him to show people what he can do, the chance he has been waiting for. "James Milner has been playing in the Leeds first-team since he was 16, and Simon is 21 now. He is at that stage of his career when he really has to kick on and take whatever opportunity comes his way. "The Premiership is very different from playing in the reserves, but I will pick the combination to give us the best chance of winning this game. Simon certainly knows where the goal is and he has a lot of pace as well. I expect him to think positively and I certainly have no qualms about putting him in from the start. "Simon will be champing at the bit, he has had a lot of great strikers in front of him here over the past couple of years and that has restricted his appearances. Now he and the other young players have the chance to break through. They’re all good enough to make the most of it."