Problems mounting for Venables

Leeds boss Terry Venables faces a defensive crisis as his side look to avoid falling at the first UEFA Cup hurdle this season.

Venables is without centre-backs Jonathan Woodgate and Lucas Radebe through injury for Thursday’s UEFA Cup first round return in the Ukraine against Metalurg Zaporizhya.

Woodgate is sidelined with a hamstring problem, which led to him missing Saturday’s 4-1 humiliation by reigning Premier League champions Arsenal at Elland Road.

Radebe, meanwhile, hobbled away from the ground on crutches due to swelling on his knee, and although skipper Dominic Matteo travels, he continues to be troubled by his own knee injury which recently led to a fortnight’s lay off.

Such are Venables’ problems, the former England boss has been forced to call 18-year-old Matthew Kilgallon into the 20-man squad which defends a slender 1-0 lead.

It is understood Venables has been highly impressed with the York-born youngster’s displays in the reserves, and shows he is not afraid to blood United’s up-and-coming players.

Just nine days ago Venables gave attacking midfielder Jamie McMaster his debut in a 1-0 defeat at Blackburn, and although unable to help Leeds save a point, showed enough promise in his 24 minutes of action to leave the United boss singing his praises.

Whether Kilgallon plays remains to be seen, but with finances tight at Leeds as the club are £40m (€63.7m) in debt, and with the transfer window not reopening until January, Venables has to use whatever is at his disposal.

“It’s important if you spend money on an academy, and some of them in the Premier League are fantastic now, that you have to get a return on your financial investment to make it worthwhile or else you’re going to have to think of a different way to do it,” said Venables.

The likes of McMaster and Kilgallon are certainly earning Venables’ respect for he appreciates how difficult it is in these foreign-influx times for home-grown players to make the breakthrough.

“Everyone needs to get players through the youth team, but the fact is the players are finding it more difficult now than ever because the competition is coming from all around the world,” added Venables.

“When I played you had competition but it was within a smaller area than it is now. It wasn’t as intense. The best players in the world are coming to this country now and they (the youngsters) have to see them off which isn’t easy.”

Kilgallon is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench for even if Matteo does not play then Venables is likely to give Michael Duberry his first start for seven months alongside Danny Mills, with Gary Kelly and Ian Harte the full-backs.