Qantas Socceroo Joins Leeds United

Leeds United has confirmed the signing of Qantas Socceroo squad member Joel Griffiths, with the striker hopeful the move will increase his chances of World Cup selection

Leeds United has confirmed the signing of Qantas Socceroo squad member Joel Griffiths, with the striker hopeful the move will increase his chances of World Cup selection.

Griffiths (pictured right) has signed a one-and-a-half year deal with the Championship side, after trialing with the club for a week and impressing manager Kevin Blackwell enough to offer him a contract.

The club and Griffiths are now awaiting an international clearance from his former Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax, which they are hopeful of getting before this weekend-s clash with Sheffield Wednesday.

Griffiths made his international debut against Jamaica last October and was part of the squad for the November qualifiers against Uruguay. He believes the move to Leeds will increase his prospects of a place in the final 23-man squad for the World Cup finals.

Leeds are currently riding high in the Championship and in line for a return to the Premiership through the play-offs.

Griffiths will also be hoping he has better luck in England than his brother Adam did, who was recently released by Championship club Watford, after failing to play a game for them in the six months he as there.

And he won-t be able to show his wares in the FA Cup, after Leeds crashed out, losing 4-2 on penalties, after finishing 3-3 with Premiership side Wigan Athletic at Elland Road.

Wigan, with John Filan and Josip Skoko in the starting line-up, took the lead three times in the match, only for Leeds to hit back each time and send the game to penalties. However it was Wigan who held their nerve in the shootout to advance to a meeting with Manchester City in the 4th Round.

Also on the winners list were Brad Jones, Mark Viduka and Mark Schwarzer, as Middlesbrough beat non-league side Nuneaton Borough 5-2 at the Riverside Stadium, to set up a 4th Round clash with Coventry City.

Jones was again in goal for Middlesbrough, while Viduka scored Boro-s fifth goal and was subbed off straight away in the 64th minute. Schwarzer remained on the bench.

Jacob Burns also was involved in a third round replay, although his Barnsley side were never in the hunt, going down 2-0 away at Walsall.

Meanwhile Qantas Socceroo defender Stan Lazaridis was not part of the Birmingham City squad that won 2-0 at home against lowly Torquay.