RECORD-breaker Aaron Lennon is standing by for his first Leeds United start in tomorrow night's Carling Cup tie against Swindon.

Leeds-born Lennon was just 16 years and 129 days old when he made his Premiership debut as a substitute at Tottenham a month ago.

Now the England youth international is set to get his chance, as Arsenal won't allow on-loan Jermaine Pennant to play in the cup-tie.

Lennon has taken over from James Milner as Leeds' regular teenage substitute so far this season, with Milner loaned out to Swindon.

Milner will not be allowed to face United tomorrow and Peter Reid has defended his decision to send the youngster on loan to the Wiltshire club.

Milner is relishing regular league football but Leeds' two recent defeats against Leicester and Birmingham have led to a number of comments in the media suggesting Reid should have kept hold of the talented teenager.

But Reid said: "It is great that James is playing league football and I can't see the problem. The facts are that Sammy Igoe got injured and Andy King (Swindon's manager) said he would play Milner. It isn't because we have so many foreigners on loan at Leeds or because I don't like Englishmen.

"He is enjoying it because he is playing at a level he would not be playing here. He is playing league football to enhance his footballing education.

"We have had him watched and he has been their best player. Andy King is made up with him."

Updated: 11:11 Tuesday, September 23, 2003