Kevin Blackwell is confident Matthew Kilgallon will slot straight back into first team action even though he hasn't played any football for eight weeks.

York-born Kilgallon picked up a knee ligament injury in the FA Cup tie against Wigan in January. He has only trained again for the last two weeks and was denied the chance of a run-out earlier this week when the reserve game was called off.

But with Sean Gregan suspended for two matches, Blackwell is expected to pick Kilgallon for the game at Coventry tomorrow.

"I have some options," Blackwell said. "I could put Shaun Derry in there or Eirik Bakke but if Matthew is fully fit and if called upon, I have no worries about him being able to cope."

The Leeds boss is keeping himself and the players out of any verbal confrontations and refuses to react to comments from outside.

He said: "I'm not worried about what other people say. We have an inner steel about us and it is up to us to do our talking on the pitch."

He also dismisses speculation that he and the players are starting to feel the pressure of the Championship race.

He added: "Last year when there was no money and the club was in danger of folding, that was pressure.

"This is enjoyable. This is what Leeds United is about.

"There is no point in thinking about what is going on around us.

"I'm not at Watford and I'm not at Sheffield United, so I can't affect what they do.

"I can affect what Leeds United do and that's what I'm concentrating on.

"We know that Coventry is going to be another tough game.

"They are on a good run of form but we are not doing so badly ourselves."

Updated: 09:53 Friday, March 17, 2006