Poyet was a hugely popular and influential number two under Dennis Wise as Leeds shrugged off their 15-point Football League deduction last term.

The 41-year-old left to take over the assistant manager's job at Tottenham Hotspur before Wise's departure for Newcastle United but the Uruguayan feels their replacements, Gary McAllister and Steve Staunton, now have the perfect blend to really bring the good times back to Elland Road.

Victory at Northampton tonight (KO 7.45pm) will see Leeds book a second- round tie at Blue Square Premier side Histon and the Whites would be huge favourites to progress again and join the Premier League big boys in the third round in the new year.

However, it is promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship that remains the holy grail and Poyet is confident that scenario is very much on the cards.

"They are really getting there now and I think they are heading for the Championship," said Poyet.

"The team is playing really well together, the manager knows his players and knows what his best team is.

"They are definitely heading in the right direction and it's looking like they will go up, well I certainly hope so.

"They just need to try and keep everyone fit, keep everyone together and keep consistent and then hopefully they will go up.

"I think they are in the right position and I am very happy with the position and shape they are in.

"They are playing well together and I think they can do it."

Three names in particular have been making the headlines for Leeds – teenage sensation Fabian Delph and red-hot strike duo Jermaine Beckford and Luciano Becchio. Poyet feels United's front two work off each other perfectly and the former Leeds assistant expects both to sail past the 20 goals mark this season.

"I think they are going very, very well together," said Poyet, who is looking for a return to management after parting company with Spurs last month.

"With Beckford, we know how he plays and what he is capable of. We know that he gets in the right positions, that he is going to finish and the confidence he has got.

"He just needed a really good partner to play with up front and he has got that in Becchio who I have been really pleased with.

"This is what you need to go up, two strikers like this who are going to get 20 goals a season."

The Whites will now look to kick-start another cup run with victory in tonight's replay and Poyet felt Leeds were rather unlucky not to win the original tie against the 10 men of Northampton at Elland Road.

However, he knows all about the thrills and spills of the FA Cup and isn't prepared to tip Leeds for an easy victory tonight.

"I watched it and I thought for a moment they had done enough to win it," said Poyet. "You just don't know and it could be very close in the replay. We'll see!"

Gus Poyet was speaking ahead of the FA Cup clash between Northampton and Leeds tonight, at 7.45pm, exclusively live on Setanta Sports 1. To subscribe go to www.setanta.com or call 08712 003322.