YORK-BORN Matthew Kilgallon has been given the thumbs-up by new Leeds United boss Dennis Wise.

The central defender didn't put a foot wrong in the 3-0 Championship home win over Colchester after some sub-standard performances of late.

Wise said: "Matthew is a strong lad who wins a lot of things in the air. He doesn't complicate things and that is what I have asked him to do. He isn't slow and knows how to defend. I want my centre halves to defend first and he has done all I could have asked of him against Colchester.

"He is a quiet young man and needs a lot of help in the way he plays. He has played alongside Matt Heath who helped him and knows how to bring him along. He has been a bit off form over the last couple of weeks but on Saturday he looked a different player and I was chuffed to bits with him.

"I am sure if he continues playing like that he will be a much better player."

Alan Smith will not be rejoining Leeds on loan from Manchester United.

The striker will snub all offers of a loan move to the Championship and instead put himself through a punishing personal training regime in an attempt to get back to full match fitness.

Having astounded Sir Alex Ferguson with the speed of his recovery from the horrific injuries he suffered during last season's FA Cup defeat at Liverpool, Smith now appears to have hit something of a brick wall.

The 25-year-old former Leeds man looked exceptionally tired at the end of extra-time when United squeezed through in the Carling Cup against Crewe last month and then only lasted an hour when his side were sent tumbling out of the competition by Southend.

The United boss revealed last week that it would be a good idea for his player to go out on loan for a short spell even though he has only two currently fit strikers in Louis Saha and Wayne Rooney.

Championship leaders Cardiff have already made an inquiry, while Wise has also suggested he would be interested in taking Smith back to Elland Road.

However, the player has informed Ferguson he wishes to remain at Old Trafford and continue the fight for a first-team place.

Smith will instead embark on a specially constructed fitness programme, devised by United's coaching staff, which he believes will be enough to push him back to full fitness.