Kilkenny eyes cup upset

Whites midfielder gutted to miss out on trip to Emirates

By James Riach   Last updated: 7th January 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Kilkenny eyes cup upset

Kilkenny: Hopes for cup shock

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Leeds midfielder Neil Kilkenny admits he is 'gutted' not to be playing Arsenal on Saturday, but believes his side can cause another upset.

The Whites travel to the Emirates for their FA Cup third round clash but Kilkenny is unavailable having been called up to the Australia squad for the Asia Cup in Qatar.

Last season Leeds turned in a fantastic performance to beat arch-rivals Manchester United 1-0 at the same stage of the competition, and the Gunners will know that they cannot underestimate their Championship opponents.

Simon Grayson's men are currently performing well in the play-off positions, although they come into the game on the back of a midweek defeat to Cardiff.

Kilkenny is confident his club team-mates can provide another cup shock in North London, and insists Leeds will not be daunted by the task in hand.

"I'm obviously gutted. I was gutted to miss the game against Cardiff as well and with that result," he told skysports.com.

"Hopefully we can get a result against Arsenal. Obviously I'm not playing but I would have loved to be playing.

"I was back in England when the draw was made and I wasn't expecting to be coming to the Asia Cup. I was really looking forward to it but hopefully I'll be able to watch the game over here.

Big chance

"We've got a massive chance. Obviously it will be a difficult game but you saw last year we were very confident in going to Old Trafford and playing our own game.

"We didn't worry about the opposition and I think the manager will set the team out again to go and attack and play the way that we play."

Kilkenny has only earned three caps for Australia in the past and was a shock call-up to the squad.

The Socceroos take on India in their opening match of the tournament and the 25-year-old admits he is honoured to be part of the travelling party.

He added: "It was definitely a bit of a surprise. I wasn't really expecting to be involved but obviously I felt that I was doing okay for Leeds United and I got the call and I was really honoured to be selected.

"I'm just trying to train hard, hopefully be in there, and hopefully try and catch the manager's eye."

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