Alex Bruce hopes his FA Cup heroics against Arsenal will be enough to cement his place in Leeds’ defence.

Defender Bruce, 26, gave a passable impression of his famous dad Steve in his pomp at the Emirates.

But the priority is to help United gather three precious Championship points against Scunthorpe today.

“The lads are making a habit of putting in a performance on the big grounds but it is important to forget about the cup until Wednesday’s replay,” said Bruce.

“Last season we had a good run in the cups and then went on a bit of a dip in the league.

“If we want to play against teams like Arsenal regularly, we have to focus fully on beating teams like Scunthorpe in the league.”

Bruce was drafted in against Arsenal after four successive games on the bench but he said: “Hopefully I did enough to keep the shirt.”

The winners of Wednesday night’s replay will have a Sunday date for their home fourth-round tie against Huddersfield.

That game is to be played on January 30 with a noon kick-off and will be televised live by ESPN.

Meanwhile, left back George McCartney is back at Elland Road for his second spell on loan from Sunderland.

The Northern Ireland international, who returned to Wearside after United’s 3-3 draw with Portsmouth on December 28, has rejoined until the end of the season.

He will not be eligible to play against Arsenal in the FA Cup replay.

Slovakia international central defender Lubo Michalik, who recently returned to Leeds from a loan spell at Carlisle, has had the remaining six months of his contract cancelled.