LUCAS Radebe stepped up his bid to return to first team action by getting a full Leeds United reserve game under his belt at York City's Bootham Crescent ground last night.

The South African star, who has been out with a knee injury, played the entire 90 minutes of a 1-1 draw with Liverpool in midfield.

It was United's first FA Premier Reserve league game of the season and attracted a 1,743 crowd.

Leeds scored after just a minute, Craig Farrell volleying in Frazer Richardson's right wing cross.

But Liverpool deservedly drew level after 27 minutes when Michael Duberry carelessly passed the ball straight to Neil Mellor who shot past Danny Milosevic.

Liverpool generally carried the greater threat with skipper Djimi Traore dominant at the back and Michael Foley's dribbling causing some problems for a Leeds defence in which Jonathan Woodgate was the star performer.

Teenager Matthew Kilgallon, from Appleton Roebuck, near York, came on as a substitute for Leeds in the second half.

Leeds United Res: Milosevic, Richardson, Duberry, Woodgate, Newey (Kilgallon 63), Maybury, Radebe, Burns (Keegan 85), Singh, Boyle (McMaster HT), Farrell.

Liverpool Res: Arphexad, Coupe, Culshaw, Traore, Welsh, Foley, Partridge, Prince, Diomede (McIlroy HT), Mellor, Miles.

Referee: D Foster. Attendance: 1,743.

- Stephen McPhail is confident his Republic of Ireland pals can take a giant stride towards qualifying for the World Cup this weekend.

McPhail, 21, is hoping for an injury-free season with Leeds following a ten-month battle with an Achilles problem.

He started just four matches last term and none so far this season but he was picked for Ireland's recent friendly against Croatia and while he has been omitted from the squad for the vital World Cup qualifier against Holland on Saturday - he will line up for the Under-21s - he is aiming for a senior recall for when it matter.

He said: "Obviously, the first team is the objective, but we will have virtually qualified if we win this Saturday, and to play in the World Cup is in the mind of every player who has ambitions."

Updated: 11:33 Wednesday, August 29, 2001