England midfielder David Batty claims his return to Leeds has brought him back from the brink of retirement.

The 30-year-old, so keen to rejoin the club with whom he started his career, today said he was teetering on the verge of ending his career when it seemed at one stage his £4.4million transfer from Newcastle was about to fall through.

"It obviously isn't something you take lightly. But it crossed my mind that I might pack it all in," said Batty, who has nonetheless been at pains to stress how much he has enjoyed his years at St James' Park.

The Yorkshire-born ace, whose missed penalty sent England crashing out of the World Cup in the summer, stunned the Magpies last month by asking for a move less than six months after agreeing his lucrative new deal.

"I have been happy at Newcastle and I certainly didn't sign a new long-term contract in the summer believing I wasn't going to fulfil it.

"But it all changed when it became clear Leeds were serious about wanting me back."

The prospective transfer seemed to hit a temporary stumbling block, and it was then that Batty began to toy with the idea of retiring.

He said: "I started to think that if I couldn't play for Leeds, maybe I'd be better off not playing at all."

Batty need no longer think in those terms, though, because he is expected to be unveiled at Elland Road as David O'Leary's first signing at a press conference later today

Leeds last night confirmed that Batty had passed his medical, paving the way for the move to go ahead and he is set to make his second Leeds debut against his former Elland Road midfield partner Gordon Strachan's Coventry next Monday.

Batty won the old First Division title with a United side captained by Sky Blues boss Strachan in 1992.

Since then, Batty has played for Blackburn - collecting a Premiership winners' medal three years ago - and the Magpies but is now poised to return to the club he supported as a boy and spent six years with until 1993.

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