Smith bottle ban begins immediately

Leeds striker Alan Smith is to start his two-game bottle-throwing ban with immediate effect.

The Yorkshire club have decided not to appeal against the punishment imposed by a disciplinary panel at Soho Square yesterday after Smith pleaded guilty to a charge of improper conduct.

Although the suspension was officially due to commence on January 20, under Football Association rules and with Leeds waiving their right to appeal, the ban can start instantly at the club’s request.

It means Smith will now sit out tonight’s clash at St James’ Park against Newcastle and Saturday’s relegation battle with Spurs at Elland Road.

Leeds have been mindful of the fact they could have potentially lost Smith for a four-game stretch should he have incurred his 10th booking of the season during the course of the next three matches.

The two-match ban that carries would have been added to the suspension he received yesterday and could have led to Smith being out from the home game with Middlesbrough on January 31 and not returning until the visit of Liverpool on February 29.

Perhaps more significantly, Leeds are wary of losing striker Mark Viduka during the current transfer window and know they cannot afford to be without both strikers at the same time and for any significant lengthy period if they are to avoid relegation.

The suspension stems from an incident at the end of Leeds’ Carling Cup defeat to Manchester United on October 28 when Smith picked up a plastic bottle and hurled it back into the Elland Road crowd, hitting the sister of one of his best friends.

Leeds, meanwhile, have taken Georgi Kinkladze on trial for a few weeks, although there is no guarantee of the Georgia international being offered a short-term deal.

Kinkladze has not played since deciding to turn down a new contract offer at Derby last summer, while a month’s trial at Panathinaikos in November came to nothing.

Leeds are to assess the fitness of the 30-year-old former Manchester City and Ajax midfielder, with a possibility of a run out in the reserves, before making a decision.