Football: Giant of a Feuer guard

A Diamond keeper is sparkling in the shop window.

THERE MAY or may not be a giant-killing at Elland Road on Wednesday night. There will certainly be a giant. Before taking their expected place in the fourth round of the FA Cup, David O'Leary's Premiership boys must first find a way past the Goliath of a goalkeeper who will be barring their path to Portsmouth.

At 6ft 7in, Ian Feuer is a mightily imposing figure. He is a mightily impressive keeper too, as Leeds United have already discovered. In 90 minutes at Nene Park eight days ago, Harry Kewell and Co could not beat the colossus in the Rushden and Diamonds goal.

It was only by chance that the Las Vegan came to be playing for the Northamptonshire non-Leaguers in the third-round tie. With Mark Gayle and Mark Smith on the injured list, the Rushden manager, Brian Talbot, was facing the prospect of promoting 18-year-old Steve Corry from youth- team goalkeeping duties until Terry Westley, one of his coaches, advised him of Feuer's availability. Westley, Luton's manager when Feuer signed from West Ham in 1995, had heard that the 27-year-old was back in England looking for gainful employment after an ill-fated spell in the United States.

Feuer moved from Luton to New England Revolution a year ago to give himself a better chance of making the United States squad for the World Cup finals. It was a gamble that failed to pay off. Steve Sampson, the US coach at the time, picked Kasey Keller, Brad Friedel and Jurgen Sommer as his goalkeeping triumvirate for France 98. Feuer was left kicking his heels all summer. But now his aspirational goalposts have changed.

"I just want to play in England again," he said after Thursday training at the Diamonds' sparkling Nene Park home. "My wife, Trui, is Belgian and we both love it in England. We both want to be here. I'm with Rushden on a month-to-month contract, doing my best in the games I'm playing and trying to find a club. I'm playing at Leeds and we'll see what the future holds after that."

The future could hold the kind of fate Mark Schwarzer has enjoyed since coming to sudden prominence for Bradford City in the FA Cup three years ago. Having only just arrived at Valley Parade for pounds 250,000 from Kaiserslautern, the Australian was sold on to Middlesbrough for pounds 1.25m. He is now an established Premiership goalkeeper with the security of a six-year contract. Given the dearth of quality keepers in England at present, Feuer may well find himself following a similarly rewarding path - if he proves his stunning display against Leeds was no blinding flash in the FA Cup pan.

He was never given the chance to prove himself in the top flight after joining West Ham from Los Angeles Salsa in 1994. He was, though, voted player of the year in his time at Luton and was, by all accounts, outstanding on his debut for Rushden, a goalless draw at Stevenage on Boxing Day.

The fact that he was subsequently confined to bed suffering from flu made the heroics he performed against Leeds even more commendable. "I should never have played really," he admitted, still far from recovered on Thursday. "But I knew I would have to give it a go. I had no energy at all. It was just a case of getting though the match."

Having got through it with distinction, a gang show-sized gathering of scouts is certain to be watching Feuer on Wednesday. "I've had a few clubs ask about me this week," he said, "but I think they want to see the Leeds game and take it from there. I can understand that. Clubs these days want to be sure what they're buying, although I must admit the interest has been very positive, very strong. It's exciting. If I can pull off a big game next Wednesday then hopefully something will happen."

Long-time followers of Leeds United will need no reminding that the last non-League goalkeeper who played at Elland Road pulled off a particularly big game. Indeed, Dickie Guy's bearded form still haunts the memory of Leeds in their 1975 pomp. Champions of England and destined for the final of the European Cup, they could not overcome the Southern Leaguers of Wimbledon by their own means. Guy saved a Peter Lorimer penalty in the goalless fourth-round FA Cup tie at Elland Road and it took an own goal by Dave Bassett to beat him in the replay.

Feuer scratched his head at the mention of Dickie Guy and even Peter Lorimer. "I've never heard of them, I'm afraid," he said. "My knowledge of English football only goes back four or five years. But, yeah, it would be nice to save a penalty up there. I'll take a bit of luck wherever I can get it. We all need it."

If Feuer's form is as hot as it was at Nene Park, though, it could be Leeds who are needing the luck of an Irish manager.