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

The bombshell comes on the day his side face Rushden and Diamonds in their FA Cup third round replay and is the latest setback in a catalogue of catastrophe to hit the club.

England international midfielder Batty has yet to kick a ball in anger since breaking a rib on his second debut - following a £4.4million move from Newcastle - in Leeds' 2-0 home win over Coventry in December.

O'Leary has also lost central defenders Robert Molenaar - who was set to undergo surgery today - and Martin Hiden to season-long knee ligament damage.

He said: "David has been training with us but his broken rib is still painful. I don't know when our injury jinx is going to let up and leave us alone. But we've an exciting cup tie and we've got to show that we can cope with this crisis that has hit us."

O'Leary looks almost certain not to risk fellow centre-back and skipper Lucas Radebe for the 40,000 Elland Road sell-out, with the South African only having played 70 minutes in the reserves since his own knee injury against Coventry.

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.

Rushden produced a heroic display in the goalless draw at Nene Park 10 days ago when they upstaged the Premiership club.

But it was a performance which was nothing less than O'Leary expected and given his team's tale of injury woe, tonight's battle will be no foregone conclusion.

O'Leary said: "I always knew it would be tough, particularly knowing how brittle we were at the back going into the game, and we're going to be struggling defensively again.

"The most disappointing thing is that we have been so hurt by injuries in one department. I've not ruled Jonathon Woodgate out yet but he is struggling and will have a test tomorrow.

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.

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