Bridges to end Euro torment

MICHAEL BRIDGES will end a two-year European torment tomorrow determined to further ease the pressure on boss Terry Venables as Leeds face a must-win fixture in Florence.

It was October 2000 when Bridges was stretchered off in a Champions League tie with Besiktas in Istanbul, beginning what proved to be a long battle to save his career.

Ankle and serious knee injuries ensured Bridges remained a frustrated spectator until finally making his comeback two months ago in the 1-0

UEFA Cup first round first-leg win over Metalurg Zaporizhia at Elland Road as a substitute, setting up the winner for Alan Smith.

The 24-year-old then missed the return for that tie after sustaining a minor knee injury in a reserve game, since when two more substitute appearances have followed.

But in terms of a landmark in his life, Bridges was more than delighted to again be flying out with the rest of the squad today for the second leg of Leeds’ second-round clash with Hapoel Tel Aviv at the Artemio Franchi stadium in Florence.

‘‘This is my first trip since that Besiktas game when I sustained my ankle injury, and it’s good to be back,’’ smiled Bridges.

‘‘Travelling with the lads, having a relaxing time and hopefully getting a result, it’s what European trips are all about. I have to say I have missed it these past couple of years.

‘‘It has been a big loss for me watching the lads on television, particularly that Champions League run when we went to the semi-finals. But it’s great to be a part of things again.’’

Bridges signalled his intent by scoring twice and making the other in a 3-1 reserve victory at Bradford, a win which came 24 hours after Leeds’ much-needed 4-3 Premier League triumph at West Ham.

After just one win in their previous nine matches prior to Sunday, the pressure was on Leeds and Venables to come away from Upton Park with three points, and they only just made it, coming close to throwing away a 4-1 lead.

‘‘It’s got to be the turning point,’’ reflected Bridges.

‘‘Sunday’s result has given us a hell of a lot of confidence, while scoring four goals is a massive plus.

‘‘Although we conceded three, and you shouldn’t have to score four to win, it was the three points that mattered because it had been a while since we got them.

‘‘It has been a miserable time recently, but we’ve got a win, we are still in there and we are back on track. It was a good win for the manager as well. It’s just what he needed.

‘‘There’s not been a problem with the lads, other than we’ve been a bit down with ourselves because we know we should be winning games.’’

Leeds hold a slender 1-0 lead going into tomorrow’s return, being staged in Italy due to safety and security concerns in Israel, with Bridges realising the implications of going out of the competition at this early stage.

‘‘We are confident we can finish this tie off now, but I don’t think it’s a case of we can, it’s more a case of we need to,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve got to beat this team to get through to the next stage when the big dogs come down from the Champions League.

‘‘We’ve got the advantage as the game is not in their backyard. I remember when we had to play Partizan Belgrade in Holland a couple of years ago. We came through that so fingers crossed we can do so again.’’