Kewell lifts the gloom

As if having to forego the belligerent services of David Batty, until next season possibly, was not bad enough news for David O'Leary this week, Leeds United go into tonight's UEFA Cup quarter-final against Slavia Prague knowing that whatever the outcome it will be overshadowed by tomorrow morning's appearance at Leeds magistrates court of Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer on charges of grievous bodily harm and affray for their part in an alleged racial assault on an Asian student outside a Leeds nightclub in January.

Events are closing in on Leeds at this crucial time of the season, though O'Leary, publicly, has been more concerned with matches which are coming thicker and faster. Leeds's season has reached such a peak of intensity that O'Leary has said that his squad has all but given up training. "We don't do anything beyond a jog and a stretch," O'Leary said yesterday.

Even that is beyond Woodgate, though, and he will be missing tonight with a calf injury. Bowyer, despite his appointment tomorrow, is expected to play, O'Leary being of the view that he will pick whoever he wants until someone is found guilty of an offence.

One piece of uplifting information for the Leeds manager is that Harry Kewell, who scored the decisive goal against AS Roma in the last round, is back from suspension. Kewell has also pledged his immediate future to the Yorkshire club, a statement his agent felt necessary given the number of stories linking the 21-year-old to a summer move to Italy.

Kewell's invention and speed will be required against opposition unbeaten in 20 matches. That run has taken Slavia to the top of the Czech League and enabled them to account for Udinese in the last round on away goals. Of benefit to Leeds is that Slavia's influential striker Ludek Zelenko is suspended.