YORK-BORN Matthew Kilgallon has been assured he has a bright future at Leeds United despite being left out of the last two matches.

The defender, nicknamed 'Killer' by his Leeds team-mates, is highly rated by caretaker-manager Eddie Gray who included him in the starting line-up for seven successive games before leaving him out against Aston Villa and Wolves.

Appleton Roebuck-based Kilgallon spent three months on loan to West Ham earlier in the season and Gray says: "Matthew has done really well since he came back to us, but he still has a bit to learn in the game. He is young, enthusiastic and willing to learn, so he has a good opportunity and a real chance to make it here.

"It wasn't easy for him coming into a side that hadn't been doing well and I feel he will benefit from this rest."

Although central defender Michael Duberry is out for several weeks with a rib injury and Lucas Radebe has not yet fully recovered from a torn hamstring, Kilgallon finds himself behind skipper Dominic Matteo and Steve Caldwell for a place at the heart of the defence.

Leeds are today expected to be granted yet another extension to their standstill agreement with major creditors as talks continue with potential buyers.

A Yorkshire consortium remains in pole position to complete a deal, while Ugandan business tycoon Michael Ezra's interest has not yet extended to a bid.

Updated: 10:45 Friday, February 13, 2004