Neil Kilkenny - Leeds new Australian dynamo

When Neil Kilkenny starred on-loan for Oldham Athletic in their impressive New Years Day victory over Leeds at Elland Road, he clearly caught the eye of then United boss Dennis Wise, who immediately moved to secure the attacking-midfielder's services on a permanent basis.

A product of Arsenal's Youth Academy, Kilkenny arrived at United via his parent club Birmingham City, with whom he had made an unforgettable Premiership debut in 1995 against Liverpool. The youngster was sent-off for a deliberate handball, conceding a late penalty which would see the Reds scramble a late 2-2 draw.

The Enfield-born midfielder had moved with his family to Brisbane as a child, and subsequently opted to represent Australia, making his debut as a substitute in a 3-1 win against Liechtenstein in a World Cup warm-up game in June 2005. During 2007 he played a vital role in the Australian Olyroos Beijing Olympics qualifying campaign.

Speaking shortly after his transfer to Leeds, Kilkenny admitted it would have been 'impossible' for him to turn the club down. 'When I was playing for Oldham, I thought I'd love to play here every week in front of these fans. I'm very happy to be here now,' he explained. 'This is a massive club and it turns your head when you hear they're interested in you - it certainly turned mine. I had a number of clubs after me, but Leeds - with this stadium, these fans and this manager - were impossible to turn down.'

After opening his goalscoring account for the Whites during yesterday's 2-0 victory over AFC Bournemouth, Kilkenny will be looking to make a significant contribution as the race for promotion to the Championship enters the final crucial phase.