POSSESSION is nine-tenths of the law for Richard Cresswell even if he is having to beat the pain barrier to hold on to his Leeds United jersey.

Determined not to let his grip on a starting place yield in United's push for promotion to the Premiership, the ex-York City marksman will postpone surgery on a damaging knee injury for as long as possible.

Doctors have said the striker can continue to play as long as he is monitored and Cresswell has said he is willing to keep playing through the pain as long as he can. Certainly manager Kevin Blackwell is hoping his front-man will be able to see out the season despite needing a cartilage operation.

Said Cresswell: "I was worried I might lose the shirt if I sat it out because the club has some very good players. I just want to play football.

"I'm just going to see how it goes in the next few weeks but I felt great when I came on against Watford and hopefully I will be able to carry on.

"The physios have done a fantastic job on me, the knee has settled down. I'm sure I will be able to carry on as normal to the end of the season."

Meanwhile, Simon Walton could get the chance of a rare starting line-up place in Leeds' next two games when Shaun Derry is suspended.

Last season the teenager made 25 starts in 33 appearances, but with the strengthening of the squad in the summer, Walton has had to make do with mainly reserve matches, with just two league starts and one appearance from the bench.

But he is the obvious choice to come in against Leicester and Luton either as a direct replacement for Derry or into a central defensive role, allowing Sean Gregan to move into the midfield holding spot.

Leeds have a tough run-in at the end of the season with two matches against Crystal Palace, a visit to in-form Preston and clashes against the top two sides Reading and Sheffield United.

Updated: 09:05 Thursday, February 16, 2006