O'Leary's manner belies the steel within the team

Considering Leeds United are at the nitty-gritty end of the game at the nitty-gritty stage of the season - when they won at Sunderland on Saturday they went into the top three of the Premiership for the first time since August, and they take part in the last eight of the European Cup this evening - these are strange in-between days at Elland Road.

The reason is obvious. At yesterday's press conference to preview tonight's match, there were as many questions relating to the court case in Hull as there were about groin strains and the like. There is an air of uncertainty, and it does not relate solely as to whether Lee Bowyer is available for selection.

The whole direction of the club is at stake. As he spoke yesterday, David O'Leary had Bowyer in his team, but current affairs will dictate that situation today.

O'Leary was surprisingly vocal on the subject, bemoaning the difficulties Leeds have faced all season in their preparation for games. "It's no way to prepare," he said. "That's been the shadow over the club for the past 12 months, but particularly the last three months. When I do my book people won't believe what we've had to put up with. I'm going to have my say big time. It's been unique. We'll be glad when it's all over."

Asked if Bowyer would be playing this evening, O'Leary replied: "We don't know if Lee Bowyer will be here."

Any sympathy for O'Leary's plight should be tempered, of course, by the fact that many of Leeds' problems appear to be self-inflicted.

But they have had their fair share of unfortunate injuries as well. Way back last September, when they were being humiliated 4-0 in the Nou Camp, Leeds had seven first-team regulars missing, O'Leary recalled, and against Sunderland the Danny Mills-Rio Ferdinand central defensive partnership which featured in the second half was the 20th pairing in that position this season.

Lucas Radebe had gone off at half-time then and he will not be fit to return tonight. But there was better news on Olivier Dacourt and Alan Smith. Both will undergo fitness tests this morning, but O'Leary thinks they will both come through. Robbie Keane faces another game starting from the bench.

Despite the distractions, O'Leary was honest enough to admit that his side are running into form. They will need to be if they are to defeat the existing champions of Spain.

Assuming the role of the underdog has suited Leeds all season, and O'Leary was aided in this by some rather rash comments emerging from the Deportivo camp. Leeds have been labelled the worst team remaining in the European Cup.

"I don't know whether we're the worst side," replied O'Leary, "but I can see the point if it is a football one. We might be the smallest club left in the competition, he might be being honest. He's probably making a valid football point. I think we've already won something by getting this far."

The idea that O'Leary will be content to repeat such platitudes to his players in the dressing-room is close to ridiculous. The opposite is more likely. Because, despite Leeds' willingness to go along with the underdog portrayal, Ferdinand gave a glimpse into the scale of the club's ambition by talking about next season as if that had already become the priority.

"We've had a lot against us this season," said the world's most expensive defender, "with injuries and what-not. But we're all in it, young kids together kind of thing.

"But next season we can't be the hopefuls. We've got to challenge Man United."

First come Deportivo La Coruna, and it can be guaranteed that even with Leeds' focus apparently everywhere but on the Spaniards, by kick-off that will all have changed.