Injuries drive O'Leary batty

Leeds manager David O'Leary was yesterday handed a further crushing injury blow with the news David Batty will be out for at least another month.

The bombshell comes on the eve of his side's FA Cup third-round replay with Rushden and Diamonds.

O'Leary has already lost central defenders Robert Molenaar and Martin Hiden to season-long knee ligament damage.

He is almost certain not to risk fellow centre-back and skipper Lucas Radebe tonight. Teenager Jonathon Woodgate is also very doubtful with a thigh strain which again leaves O'Leary with only one recognised central defender in David Wetherall.

If Woodgate fails his test and O'Leary refuses to gamble on Radebe, then Norwegian internationals Gunnar Halle and Alfie Haaland are likely to figure alongside Wetherall at the back.

Meanwhile Ian Wright was last night undergoing an operation on his knee, dealing a blow to West Ham's European ambitions on the eve of their replay trip to Swansea.

Wright is likely to be out for four to six weeks. Wright joins a lengthening injury list at Upton Park, with Marc Keller, Paul Kitson and Javier Margas already ruled out of the replay at Vetch Field.

Ian Pearce (calf) and Trevor Sinclair (thigh) also face late fitness tests, but Julian Dicks is available for selection. Swansea boss John Hollins should have a full-strength squad to choose from with striker Julian Alsop, so impressive in the first game, set to shrug off a knee injury to play.

Fulham goalkeeper Maik Taylor will once again line up against his old club Southampton who take on his current employers, Fulham, at Craven Cottage tonight. Saints old boy Alan Neilson keeps his place in defence as Simon Morgan is still out with a torn calf. Left back Rufus Brevett misses the game through suspension and is likely to be replaced by Matthew Brazier.