A competitive outing was welcome and necessary for the senior players absent or only briefly involved in Saturday's League One defeat to Oldham Athletic, and McAllister did not see fit to waste the chance to remind his squad of the depth in their ranks.
The show of strength at Elland Road yesterday evening - when United's midfield consisted of four players with a combined total of 203 appearances for Leeds - may have been as much for the benefit of the team beaten 2-0 by Oldham as it was for any watching opposition scouts, and the club's second string met their side of the bargain with a spirited performance in a 3-2 defeat.
McAllister intimated at the weekend that he would not be tempted into wholesale changes within his senior team by their first defeat of the season, but the line-up selected by his reserve coach, Neil Thompson, last night provided ample evidence that he has the personnel to do so.
Neil Kilkenny returned to United's fold with his first appearance for Leeds since their opening pre-season friendly and his summons to the Olympic Games in Beijing, and a sharp-looking quartet completed by Jonathon Douglas, Andrew Hughes and Bradley Johnson confirmed that the players in waiting are numerous and ready for promotion from the sidelines.
Luciano Becchio and Lubomir Michalik took to the field for the Central League East Division game with the same intention, and the first reserve fixture of the new season produced as open and genuine a contest as McAllister could have asked for.
It furthered his plans for a meaningful game to see Town select a team of comparative strength, including recent signing David Unsworth and trialist goalkeeper Paul Gerrard, both former members of Everton's squad.
So experienced was the visiting line-up that several of the players fielded by Mick Docherty, Town's reserve-team coach, had played in the league game between the clubs at Elland Road last December.
The identity of those on the fringes of Huddersfield's squad - the Clarke brothers and Michael Collins, for example - spoke of a summer of transition and change under Stan Ternent.
The first half last night produced a total of four goals, two from the penalty spot, and the constant chances created by both teams did justice to a stage of English football which often equates to the standard of practice matches.
Leeds hit the crossbar in the 10th minute, Tom Elliott nodding the ball against the woodwork after Gerrard fumbled a cross from Aidan White which the goalkeeper ought to have held, and the early flourish prompted a continuous spell of end-to-end football.
Huddersfield scored with the game's next opportunity, when Malvin Kamara met a bouncing ball on the edge of United's box and looped an opportunistic header over the fully-stretched Alan Martin, and the goal rewarded the visitors' more incisive start. It took just 11 minutes, however, for the combination of Douglas and Johnson to force an equaliser.
Kilkenny had already threatened Gerrard with a shot from 30 yards which dipped a yard over the crossbar when Douglas' low cross found Johnson hidden amongst Huddersfield's defenders and in enough space to drive a header passed Gerrard.
Johnson was arguably the most surprising name missing from McAllister's squad against Oldham - the former Northampton midfielder sustained a back injury shortly before the start of the season but was fit enough to play in last week's Carling Cup tie at Chester City - but there were few players who failed to remind McAllister of their value yesterday.
Johnson almost bagged a second goal at the start of the second half, glancing Kilkenny's cross past the post after Gerrard had dipped into his vat of Premiership experience to keep out a low shot from Becchio with an outstretched arm, but a further two goals had arrived by that stage, both from the spot.
United were first to be penalised in the 35th minute following Martin's sliding foul on Phil Jevons, who found the back of the net from 12 yards, but Tom Clarke's connection with the heels of Douglas three minutes later allowed Becchio to restore parity with his first goal in a Leeds shirt.
The show of strength at Elland Road yesterday evening - when United's midfield consisted of four players with a combined total of 203 appearances for Leeds - may have been as much for the benefit of the team beaten 2-0 by Oldham as it was for any watching opposition scouts, and the club's second string met their side of the bargain with a spirited performance in a 3-2 defeat.
McAllister intimated at the weekend that he would not be tempted into wholesale changes within his senior team by their first defeat of the season, but the line-up selected by his reserve coach, Neil Thompson, last night provided ample evidence that he has the personnel to do so.
Neil Kilkenny returned to United's fold with his first appearance for Leeds since their opening pre-season friendly and his summons to the Olympic Games in Beijing, and a sharp-looking quartet completed by Jonathon Douglas, Andrew Hughes and Bradley Johnson confirmed that the players in waiting are numerous and ready for promotion from the sidelines.
Luciano Becchio and Lubomir Michalik took to the field for the Central League East Division game with the same intention, and the first reserve fixture of the new season produced as open and genuine a contest as McAllister could have asked for.
It furthered his plans for a meaningful game to see Town select a team of comparative strength, including recent signing David Unsworth and trialist goalkeeper Paul Gerrard, both former members of Everton's squad.
So experienced was the visiting line-up that several of the players fielded by Mick Docherty, Town's reserve-team coach, had played in the league game between the clubs at Elland Road last December.
The identity of those on the fringes of Huddersfield's squad - the Clarke brothers and Michael Collins, for example - spoke of a summer of transition and change under Stan Ternent.
The first half last night produced a total of four goals, two from the penalty spot, and the constant chances created by both teams did justice to a stage of English football which often equates to the standard of practice matches.
Leeds hit the crossbar in the 10th minute, Tom Elliott nodding the ball against the woodwork after Gerrard fumbled a cross from Aidan White which the goalkeeper ought to have held, and the early flourish prompted a continuous spell of end-to-end football.
Huddersfield scored with the game's next opportunity, when Malvin Kamara met a bouncing ball on the edge of United's box and looped an opportunistic header over the fully-stretched Alan Martin, and the goal rewarded the visitors' more incisive start. It took just 11 minutes, however, for the combination of Douglas and Johnson to force an equaliser.
Kilkenny had already threatened Gerrard with a shot from 30 yards which dipped a yard over the crossbar when Douglas' low cross found Johnson hidden amongst Huddersfield's defenders and in enough space to drive a header passed Gerrard.
Johnson was arguably the most surprising name missing from McAllister's squad against Oldham - the former Northampton midfielder sustained a back injury shortly before the start of the season but was fit enough to play in last week's Carling Cup tie at Chester City - but there were few players who failed to remind McAllister of their value yesterday.
Johnson almost bagged a second goal at the start of the second half, glancing Kilkenny's cross past the post after Gerrard had dipped into his vat of Premiership experience to keep out a low shot from Becchio with an outstretched arm, but a further two goals had arrived by that stage, both from the spot.
United were first to be penalised in the 35th minute following Martin's sliding foul on Phil Jevons, who found the back of the net from 12 yards, but Tom Clarke's connection with the heels of Douglas three minutes later allowed Becchio to restore parity with his first goal in a Leeds shirt.
The Argentine striker's match fitness - until now a consideration in McAllister's selection process - seemed greatly improved last night.
The desire of both teams to settle the game in their favour was displayed in the 56th minute when Joe Skarz threw his body in front of a powerful shot from Douglas, digging Unsworth out of a hole after the centre-back conceded possession 14 yards out, and Tom Elliott, who impressed with his positioning and movement from start to finish, failed narrowly to guide a chance inside Gerrard's near post minutes later.
It was to be Huddersfield's night, however, and after Jevons crashed a free-kick against United's crossbar, he appeared in the right position on 68 minutes to nudge the ball over the line after Martin's brilliant parry sent Tom Clarke's goal-bound header high into the air.
The closest Town came to conceding a third equaliser during the closing stages of a fine contest was Johnson's sublime 83rd-minute shot which shook the frame of Gerrard's goal but bounced clear of the net.
McAllister, who was present at Elland Road with assistant Steve Staunton, remained in his seat until full-time to see out a game which gave him much to contemplate. His players will await the teamsheet at Yeovil Town with keen interest this weekend.
Leeds Res: Martin, Telfer, Webb, Michalik, White, Kilkenny, Douglas, Hughes, Johnson, Elliott, Becchio.
Subs Unused: Cartman, Ovington, Edwards, Milne, Darville.
Huddersfield Res: Gerrard, Smith, Nathan Clarke, Unsworth (Killock 61), Skarz, Kamara, Tom Clarke, Collins (Codman 61), Parker (Broadbent 61), Jevons, Beckett.
Subs Unused: Smithies, Denton.
Ref: M Brown
The desire of both teams to settle the game in their favour was displayed in the 56th minute when Joe Skarz threw his body in front of a powerful shot from Douglas, digging Unsworth out of a hole after the centre-back conceded possession 14 yards out, and Tom Elliott, who impressed with his positioning and movement from start to finish, failed narrowly to guide a chance inside Gerrard's near post minutes later.
It was to be Huddersfield's night, however, and after Jevons crashed a free-kick against United's crossbar, he appeared in the right position on 68 minutes to nudge the ball over the line after Martin's brilliant parry sent Tom Clarke's goal-bound header high into the air.
The closest Town came to conceding a third equaliser during the closing stages of a fine contest was Johnson's sublime 83rd-minute shot which shook the frame of Gerrard's goal but bounced clear of the net.
McAllister, who was present at Elland Road with assistant Steve Staunton, remained in his seat until full-time to see out a game which gave him much to contemplate. His players will await the teamsheet at Yeovil Town with keen interest this weekend.
Leeds Res: Martin, Telfer, Webb, Michalik, White, Kilkenny, Douglas, Hughes, Johnson, Elliott, Becchio.
Subs Unused: Cartman, Ovington, Edwards, Milne, Darville.
Huddersfield Res: Gerrard, Smith, Nathan Clarke, Unsworth (Killock 61), Skarz, Kamara, Tom Clarke, Collins (Codman 61), Parker (Broadbent 61), Jevons, Beckett.
Subs Unused: Smithies, Denton.
Ref: M Brown