ROBBIE Keane's hopes of a St Patrick's Day recall to Leeds United's attack on tomorow (2pm) took a blow this week when strikers Alan Smith and Mark Viduka avoided FA bans.

Keane was all set to step in alongside Robbie Fowler against Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road after just one start in Leeds' last 16 Premiership matches.

However, Smith and Viduka were cleared of misconduct when they appeared before the FA at Soho Square and are now available to face Graeme Souness's Rovers. Smith avoided his fourth ban of the season and Viduka his first when the FA ruled that incidents involving Graeme Le Saux and Martin Keown were "accidents in the context of a physical game".

Smith, who was sent off against Cardiff in the FA Cup and Aston Villa in the Premiership, also served a ban for clocking up five bookings.

Now he says: "When things are going badly you need your experienced players to stand up and be counted. I know I can control myself when I am playing and I know you don't get anywhere by getting sent off.

"My job is to score goals for Leeds United and that is what I want to concentrate on doing. When things are going well it certainly helps, but you start doing silly things when the game is going badly.

"Everyone jumped on the bandwagon and started having a go at me for that sending-off at Cardiff but I did not deserve to be sent off. That suspension has ruined my season."

And Smith has the backing of his Australian strike partner, who feels Smith should be a certainty for England's World Cup squad.

Australia international Viduka has even said he would put in a phone call himself to Eriksson to recommend the Rothwell terrier.

He said: "If I was mates with Sven then I would give him a buzz.

"Thursday was a good day for the club because not many people get off when they attend those hearings, so for myself and Smudger Smith it was a big relief.

"More so for Smithy because with the World Cup coming up it means he has a good chance of making the squad. To be able to play for the rest of the season is a big thing for him.

"If he had been banned he would have missed the England game with Italy. But now his options are open, and so I hope he can get into the squad. I think it would be a real loss if he didn't go to the World Cup."

Jonathan Woodgate starts his first senior game since injuring a hamstring at Chelsea on January 30. Woodgate comes in for Dominic Matteo who is suspended following his sending-off at Everton for two bookable offences.

Danny Mills returns on completion of his six-match ban but Lee Bowyer is still ruled out through suspension and is not due to return until the big one against Manchester United at Elland Road on March 30.

Leeds and Blackburn are both boosted by wins over Ipswich, and David O'Leary's side are looking to keep their fifth clean sheet in six matches.

Updated: 11:12 Saturday, March 16, 2002