Premiership: Leeds fields full-strength squad

David O’Leary was able to field a full-strength line-up as Leeds looked to return to the top of the Premier League.

The gauntlet had again been thrown down for the Leeds players to pick up following Aston Villa’s defeat to Newcastle yesterday, with United knowing a win would see them head into the international break as outright leaders, regardless of other results.

There were doubts hanging over skipper Rio Ferdinand, Harry Kewell and Lee Bowyer going into the game, but all three were named in a side with the only unbeaten record in the top flight.

Centre-back Ferdinand had missed Thursday’s UEFA Cup second round, second leg defeat to Troyes with a hamstring strain sustained in last weekend’s draw at Manchester United and then aggravated in training on Monday, but again took up the captain’s armband, with Michael Duberry making way.

Winger Kewell, along with team-mate Mark Viduka playing his last Leeds match for three weeks due to international duty with Australia, was fit again after picking up a calf strain which led to him being taken off at half-time in France.

Midfielder Bowyer, meanwhile, was playing with a broken nose sustained after being accidentally elbowed by Nicky Butt at Old Trafford, with an operation having been postponed until Tuesday.

Spurs, on the back of four successive victories, were unchanged from the side which staged a come-from-behind win over Middlesbrough last Saturday.

If Tottenham were to make it five in a row it would mean them becoming the first team to score at Elland Road in a league game this season.