David O'Leary has been boosted ahead of Leeds United's second visit to the south coast in a week with the return of four first-choice players.

United travel to Southampton looking to continue the form which saw them demolish Portsmouth with a 5-1 victory in the FA Cup last weekend.

O'Leary's side chalked up such an emphatic win despite being without the suspended trio of Alan Smith, Lee Bowyer and Alfie Haaland along with captain Lucas Radebe, who was away on international duty with South Africa.

However all four are back in contention for a recall to the United side with Smith, Radebe and Bowyer the most likely candidates to go back into the starting line-up.

Left back Danny Granville looks set to miss out though after aggravating a hamstring injury at Fratton Park.

There was more bad news regarding David Batty today when he was ordered to take a further four-week break to tryand cure his rib injury.

O'Leary will be anxious for his team to produce the same flair and fluency which destroyed Portsmouth.

But Southampton, fighting for their lives at the foot of the table, will try to make things difficult for Leeds.

O'Leary will also be anxious to divert the heavy media spotlight which has fallen on his young starlets in recent weeks.

This has included intense speculation that Italian giants Juventus are anxious to recruit teenage striker Smith and midfieldman Lee Bowyer.

But chairman Peter Ridsdale is determined that O'Leary is not forced to sell off his prize assets as the club stands on the brink of a bright future.

"We have a youth policy that is paying off and we don't want to sell players when the scheme is just beginning to bear fruit. We're proud of all our kids and they are not for sale."

Ridsdale is expected to underline his determination to keep his rising stars by entering into new contract talks with them. Manchester United's boss Alex Ferguson adopted a similar policy a few years ago and he has been handsomely rewarded since for his decisiveness.

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