Harte break for Leeds

Ian Harte will be suspended for three first-team matches after being sent off for violent conduct in a reserves match.

The suspension casts doubt over a possible loan move to a First Division club and will also hinder his efforts to regain a regular starting place in Peter Reid’s side.

Harte was red-carded after kicking out at Liverpool’s young French striker Anthony Le Tallec during the reserves match last night.

The Republic of Ireland international had been left out of the squad for the 4-0 defeat at Leicester and he will now be unavailable for the visits of Blackburn and Manchester United and the trip to Liverpool.

There was some good news for Leeds from the reserves game as striker Michael Bridges played for 45 minutes and scored a goal on his comeback.

Bridges’ career has been tormented by injury over the last three years and he had not played since suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in December.

Leeds reserves coach Steve Agnew told the club’s official website, www.leedsunited.com: “The movement for the goal was good, he looked confident and created chances for himself.

“The main thing is he feels he’s now reached a level he wants to be at with his fitness, and he’ll go on from here and keep improving.”