ALAN THOMPSON wants to make his move from Celtic permanent if Leeds United hold on to Championship status.

Thompson last week jumped at the chance to swap his Celtic nightmare for the challenge of helping Leeds to stave off relegation.

Now, after recovering from a niggling calf injury, he hopes to make his debut against promotion-chasers West Brom at Elland Road tomorrow.

Thompson, 33, knows he has no future under Gordon Strachan's management after playing second fiddle to Shaun Maloney, the Scotland Players' Player of the Year.

He said: "I was more than frozen out towards the end at Celtic and it wasn't the way I wanted to end my time there. The missus was sick of seeing me at home every weekend. She'll be glad I am out of the house at last.

"I've joined Leeds until the end of the season but there is the option of staying next year if we stay up. It would be nice to take that option.

"I got the impression about 12 months ago that I had no future at Celtic. They had a new manager with new ideas and I could have no qualms about losing my place to Shaun Maloney. He did ever so well and picked up a few awards.

"Now I am looking forward to a new challenge at Leeds. They need to survive and then kick on next season.

"From what I've seen in training Leeds have some good players who shouldn't be in the position they find themselves. We need big characters and big performances if we are going to stay up and the pleasing thing is that the atmosphere is good.

"When I arrived I expected it to be a bit flat but the players are buzzing and looking to fight for the cause."

Thompson's Old Firm' rival at Glasgow Rangers, Norwegian striker Tore Andre Flo, is set to make his home debut and right-back Gary Kelly has shaken off the back injury that has kept him out since November 4.

Postponement of last Saturday's game at Birmingham means Jonathan Douglas is still suspended but manager Dennis Wise believes Leeds may be meeting Albion at the right time as key men John Hartson and Jason Koumas are suspended.

"Those two are very influential players who caused us problems in the FA Cup at their place," said Wise. "We know West Brom's strengths and weaknesses. They have some very good players who should be in the Premiership but they are not very good away from home so this is an opportunity to take three points and avenge the FA Cup defeat."

Wise added: "We had a terrible 2006 but that has gone, it's a new start and the players have something to prove. We won our only championship game of the new year, against Coventry, and are looking to make it back-to-back wins in the league."

United will set out for a training camp in Cyprus after the game as their next fixture is not due until Tuesday, January 30, at Hull.