RADEBE'S CAREER IN THE BALANCE

The South African international has not played for Leeds this season because of his knee problems, and has now gone eight months without pulling on his white shirt for the club.

O'Leary has said that the concern over Radebe was a major factor in his decision to splash out £18 million on West Ham's Rio Ferdinand.

"His career is in the balance now because of that knee," O'Leary said of Radebe. "That's why I bought Rio Ferdinand a year ago."

The Irishman told South African newspaper The Cape Argus that he blamed the South African Football Association for Radebe's injury as they ignored medical advice and called him into the squad, despite the player being injured.

"Two years ago we sent a medical report to South Africa about his knee but he kept getting called up. Lucas was in a Catch 22 situation - he loves playing for his country, he wanted to play all the games.

"It was an independent doctor, not one of ours that examined Lucas and he said his knee couldn't take much more. We sent that report to South Africa, but they still called him up."

O'Leary has heaped praise onto his former captain, and says that he would love to bring more players like him to Elland Road, if it wasn't for the South African FA.

He says that the players are called up too often and until things change he will not be dipping into the transfer market in South Africa.

"I'd love a few more footballers like Lucas, but until the SA Football Association get their act together my chairman won't take one.

"It's all very well finding players like Lucas, but it's not much good to Leeds when they go missing so often.

"I call him the 'Chief' or 'Warrior'. Lucas is so brave and never complains, he'd come to training with one leg and then apologies for not giving 100 percent. My life would be a lot easier with a team of Lucases."

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