Leeds boss Simon Grayson has dismissed speculation linking him with the managerial vacancy at Championship rivals Leicester.

Grayson enjoyed a successful spell as a player with the East Midlands club between 1992 and 1997 and has been linked as a potential successor to Sven-Goran Eriksson after the Swede’s departure on Monday.

But the United manager said: “It’s a club that’s very close to my heart but this club is far closer to my heart.

“I’ve had an affiliation with Leicester in the past but my sole aim is to do well for Leeds.

“I’m totally focused on Leeds and that focus has never dwindled during my time at the club.

“I’m delighted things are going well here and I want to continue doing the job I’ve set out to do. That is my one and only objective.”

United could have climbed to joint-second in the table had they won at Birmingham on Wednesday night.

Instead they lost 1-0 thanks to Nikola Zigic’s 35th-minute strike, ending a seven-match unbeaten run in the process.

Leeds now travel to face Cardiff on Sunday knowing victory for the Welsh side would see them leapfrog above Grayson’s fifth-placed side in the table – and possibly push them out of the play-off places altogether.

Winger Robert Snodgrass played the full 90 minutes in midweek after recovering from a back problem and is expected to be included from the start again, while striker Luciano Becchio is also pushing for a place.

Meanwhile, Leeds pair Darren O’Dea and Andy Keogh have been included in the Republic of Ireland squad for their Euro 2012 play-off against Estonia.

The first leg is in Tallinn on Friday, November 11, with the return in Dublin four days later.