No panic in Leeds camp says Back

Back led Leeds to promotion during his first season in charge

Leeds Carnegie head coach Neil Back insists there is no panic in the camp despite suffering four consecutive defeats in the Premiership.

Leeds are bottom of the table with just two points and lost 26-10 at home to Gloucester on Sunday.

"We are five games into a 22 game competition so there is a lot of rugby left to play," Back told BBC Radio Leeds.

"There will be lots of ups and downs around the corner."

Leeds head into the European Challenge Cup still looking for their first win of the season.

The Yorkshire side go to last season's beaten finalists Bourgoin on Friday, then host Parma nine days later.

"We now go into Europe for two weeks and we are looking forward to that," said Back.

"That gives us the opportunity to focus on a different competition.

"It will allow us to rest some of the guys and also give other players an opportunity to play and build their confidence.

"That will create more competition within the squad and make us stronger.

"Hopefully we can win in this competition and set a winning platform to return to Premiership action.

Back also paid tribute to captain Marco Wentzel, who made his return from an arm injury against Gloucester.

He's instilled a real professionalism in the side and he will only get better

Back on captain Marco Wentzel

"Marco was not 100% fit and it was touch-and-go if he'd actually play in this one.

"But I think his mentality brought a lot of touch-and-go players, who may not have played this week, back into the side with him and I'd like to thank him for that.

"He's instilled a real professionalism in the side and he was on the top of his game today and he will only get better."

Meanwhile Henry Fa'afili will make his first appearance in a Leeds shirt on Monday night, as he plays for the 'A' team at Leicester Tigers (kick-off 1945 BST).

He has been named at outside centre, while prop Pete Bucknall will start the game as he continues his comeback from a knee operation.