Robinson's recovery lifts Leeds

The Leeds manager David O'Leary has been given a fillip as he plots to end Bolton's 100 per cent Premiership record at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Irishman saw first-choice goalkeeper Nigel Martyn withdraw from the England squad in midweek after twisting his knee, but understudy Paul Robinson has made a welcome return to senior action after being sidelined this season with a couple of injuries.

And with Robinson reckoning Martyn's injury is not serious, O'Leary could soon have both his main goalkeepers back to full fitness and fighting for the No 1 spot.

"I've seen Nigel and his injury is not too bad. He'll be okay for Saturday," said Robinson, who returned between the sticks for the Yorkshire club's second string in the 2-1 defeat by Manchester City on Tuesday.

"It was great to get a game," he said. "I'd come back from my finger injury but a bruised heel has hampered my progress since. I wasn't happy with my performance, though it's difficult when you've been out so long.

"Last week in training I couldn't catch a cold and I wondered if I'd ever get back to where I was. It will come back through hard work in training and matches."

The Charlton manager Alan Curbishley has admitted that injuries have disrupted his plans for the Premiership season. The former England Under-21 centre-back Richard Rufus, who is ruled out until March after surgery for knee ligament damage, has joined internationals, Swede Matt Svensson and Radostin Kishishev, of Bulgaria, on the sidelines at The Valley.

Curbishley said: "Injuries were a prominent feature of last season and I feel the main reason for our success was the strength of the squad. It was used to the full and when called upon players responded and gave impressive performances.

"This will have to be the case this season as well as I have been without six players who would have been in contention for the starting line-up.

"But other teams have injuries as well. It's just something that we have to accept."

The loss of Rufus is a particular blow, coming just days after Andy Todd handed in a transfer request.

Curbishley may now have to talk the former Bolton defender into staying at the south-east London club after initially granting him a move.