Bradley Johnson has been told he must stay at Leeds United until the end of the season when his contract expires.

The midfielder, who scored a spectacular goal in the 3-1 FA Cup defeat against Arsenal on Wednesday night, won’t be allowed to leave during the January transfer window because manager Simon Grayson believes his qualities are needed in the drive for promotion.

Johnson rejected Leeds’ final contract offer earlier in the season but Grayson has continued to pick him. The Leeds manager said: “We have had enquiries about Bradley but we are not prepared to sell him.

“It would take a lot of money to persuade us to sell him and the way he is playing at the moment I am not interested in doing that.

“From day one when he turned down the contract offer I said Bradley would be picked on merit and I have done that. He is probably playing his best football since he and I have been at the club. He has never complained about some of the positions I have asked him to fill. He has played at left back, left midfield and central midfield which I know is his preferred position.

“Three or four months ago he would have thought of himself as a more attacking midfield player but the way we are playing at the moment he is filling more of a holding role.

“He has a range of passing and a delightful left foot, which he showed in scoring that great goal against Arsenal and I am delighted with his attitude and the way he is playing.

“He has put everything to one side. Six weeks ago he got taken off in a match and the fans booed him, but now they are chanting his name. Last season Jermaine Beckford was booed when I took him off once and when he came back he was the fans’ hero and Bradley is a similar case.”

United visit Portsmouth tomorrow hoping to justify Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s assertion that they can recapture Premiership status.

Wenger lavished praise on the Leeds players and Grayson after the replay. He said: “We miss Leeds in the Premier League and hopefully they can come back.

“You have to give Simon credit for the way his team behaved in both games. He organised them well and they have a belief and never-give-up attitude. I was impressed by their spirit and I think they have a good chance of coming back into the Premiership.”

Turning to tomorrow’s task, Grayson hinted at changes. “It is a quick turn-around for the Portsmouth game and I may make a few changes because we have a good squad,” he said.

Central defender Andy O’Brien, whose own-goal in time added on enabled Portsmouth to escape with a 3-3 draw at Elland Road in December, is set to miss the trip to Fratton Park with a tight hamstring, so Neill Collins stands by to deputise. Grayson will also check the fitness of striker Luciano Becchio, who missed the replay with a back injury, before the squad flies south later today.