Leeds United: Striker Antenucci still has plenty to prove says Evans

The 31-year-old was strongly linked with a return to his native Italy in the January transfer window, with Ascoli among several clubs who were interested.

But Antenucci’s agent Silvio Pagliari moved this week to stress that the forward was happy at Leeds – with his comments coming after his client was understood to have told United that he wished to go home to Italy during the window after his partner gave birth to their second child.

A decision is now likely regarding Antenucci, whose current Elland Road deal ends in June, at the end of the season, with Leeds reluctant to part company with the forward ahead of last Monday’s deadline.

On the future of Antenucci, who stressed back in November that he was keen to stay at Leeds and will be open to the prospect of signing a new contract, Evans said: “I think for anyone to get a contract beyond a contract ending, they have to be in the team as a regular and producing performances that make it – in coaching terms – a ‘no-brainer’ for me to recommend to the president that we do something.

“I thought Antenucci was outstanding at Bolton. And he looked really bright in the game before when he came on.

“I never thought for one minute he would have gone in January, I really didn’t.

“I knew there was a lot of interest in Italy. But I always thought he’d be around because he loves being at Leeds United and I think he wants to be here.

“But to be here beyond the summer, he has to produce the performances he did for 45 minutes on Saturday.

“There were offers (in January). But they were never accepted.”

Meanwhile, Evans has revealed that he expects right-back Gaetano Berardi to return to action in a fortnight.