OLD warhorse Lucas Radebe could make his chairman, Peter Ridsdale, eat his words.

The 33-year-old South African's first team return went almost unnoticed in the hullabaloo surrounding Terry Venables' first game in charge at Leeds United.

But the defender, who missed all last season with knee trouble, was back to his best in United's 3-0 opener against last season's runaway First Division champions Manchester City.

Ridsdale's public assertion that Jonathan Woodgate will be a better player for both Leeds and England than the departed Rio Ferdinand has a hollow ring to it. The chairman's theory may not be put to the test for some time if Radebe stays healthy.

Radebe only started against City because Woodgate was injured but soon welded a formidable centre-back partnership with new skipper Dominic Matteo against a lively City at a baking Elland Road.

The radar-like interceptions, crisp tackles, firm headers and ability to read danger have not dimmed during Radebe's year on the sidelines.

All the weekend headlines were about Venables' triumphant return in the battle of the ex-England bosses. It could not have gone much better for "Ell Tel", while counterpart Kevin Keegan will be disappointed at the scoreline.

Venables' new signing Nick Barmby took 15 minutes to register his first Leeds goal, beating nervy City goalkeeper Carlo Nash to Lee Bowyer's deflected cross.

Just before half-time the former Liverpool man threaded through the left-wing pass for Mark Viduka to race through unchallenged and finish in style

Many believe Venables has the Midas Touch and even his substitution paid off when the tireless Alan Smith headed the ball on for Robbie Keane, on for Viduka minutes earlier, to produce a superb chip over Nash for the third.

Even Venables' choice of goalkeeper paid off, Paul Robinson, preferred to Nigel Martyn, making three fine saves in keeping a clean sheet, but was fortunate when Sun Jihai and Eyal Berkovic both hit the woodwork from distance.

Robinson was almost embarrassed by a lofted Lee Bowyer back pass which nearly gifted a goal to Nicolas Anelka but the England under-21 goalkeeper, making his first Premiership start for 19 months, was generally solid.

It certainly wasn't as easy as the score suggests with Ali Benarbia and Berkovic causing problems in midfield where City had an extra man.

Venables said: "I thought it was a very open game in the first half, too open for my liking but by the end of the game we were a lot better, more compact."

Updated: 11:24 Monday, August 19, 2002