Massimo Cellino Laments Leeds United Challenge

Leeds United manager Massimo Cellino has labelled the situation at Elland Road a "bloodbath" as the Italian begins attempts to return the club to the Premier League.

Cellino completed his takeover in west Yorkshire in early April after winning an appeal against The Football League who had originally prohibited him from agreeing a deal with former owners Gulf Finance House Capital.

After 10 years outside English football's top flight and in several millions of pounds worth of debt, Cellino is hoping to return the club to the Premier League for the 2015/16 season but admits things at Leeds are worse than he feared.

"At the age of 57 I'm putting myself back up for the challenge," he said. "It's a bloodbath, but I am targeting a return to the Premier League in two years."

Cellino financed the loan moves for Connor Wickham and Jack Butland earlier in the season however neither signing made a significantly impact on Leeds' play-off hopes, with six defeats in the club's last seven games ending their promotion campaign.

Butland, 21, is in contention to travel to the 2014 World Cup as part of Roy Hodgson's England squad this summer and after making 14 appearances while on loan from Stoke City the youngster admits he has learned plenty at Leeds.

"We have been on a tough run and conceded a lot of goals," said Butland. "So, it has been good to get a couple of clean sheets in the last two weeks.

"We had been at a stage where every mistake we made ended up in a goal but, thankfully, things have come together a bit more in the last couple of weeks.

"The spell has had a few ups and downs but what hasn't changed is the experience I am getting of playing for a big club.

"There is a lot of expectation that comes with playing in front of big crowds. Yes, it has been tough and we haven't picked up enough points, but it has been something that has taught me a lot and it will help me moving forward."