Leeds continued their countdown towards a crunch Champions League showdown with a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest - their fourth successive pre-season victory. A spate of injuries, though, sustained on United's pre-season trip to Sweden had robbed the 11,020 crowd at the City Ground of seeing manager David O'Leary's strongest line-up.

At least £50million worth of talent was sidelined, including new £6million striker Mark Viduka, fellow Australian star Harry Kewell, Michael Bridges, Lucas Radebe, Jonathan Woodgate, Jason Wilcox and Stephen McPhail.The team which started will certainly bear no resemblance to the one which faces TSV 1860 Munich in the money-spinning third-round qualifier at Elland Road, with victory paving the way to the riches of the group stage. Of the 11 which were on the field when Frazer Stretton first blew his whistle, only five - Nigel Martyn, Ian Harte, Eirik Bakke, Lee Bowyer and the impressive Olivier Dacourt - will be given the nod against the Germans.

In Frenchman Dacourt, Leeds undoubtedly had the class act of the show as he displayed pace, strength and vision in abundance, underlying just why Leeds had splashed out a club record sum of #7.2million two months ago. Dacourt was even afforded the privilege of being given the captain's armband for his first game back on English soil since leaving Everton for Lens 14 months ago.

In Dacourt, O'Leary finally has a player who can dictate the flow of the game from the holding role in central midfield. It is a position normally reserved for David Batty, who has been tentatively pencilled in to return at Christmas following a nine-month Achilles injury lay-off, a problem which required surgery this summer. Dacourt displayed tremendous tenacity and energy, mopping up in defence on several occasions, creating chances from midfield and lending support to the forward line when required. The 25-year-old looks destined to become a pivotal figure in United's bid for silverware this season, both in Europe and the domestic front.

With O'Leary poised to add two or three new faces before the start of the new Premiership season on August 19, the Irishman could have the squad to finally challenge the dominance of Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United.But they were made to work hard for their victory over David Platt's Nottingham Forest, who ended last season on the back of a seven-match unbeaten run to avoid a late relegation battle.

Lee Bowyer's third pre-season goal - with Leeds having scored 17 in three games in Sweden - came after Forest had the best of the early chances. Bowyer's searing 20-yard right-foot drive in the 25th minute gave 41-year-old Dave Beasant no chance, but Forest were level inside two minutes. David Prutton's through-ball was glaringly missed by Michael Duberry, who has been linked with a move to Charlton, giving Gary Jones - a free transfer signing from Tranmere this summer - the chance to beat Nigel Martyn from 15 yards.The game was settled, though, via a trademark Ian Harte free-kick two minutes from the break as he lifted the ball over the wall and into the top corner from 22 yards for his fourth pre-season goal after Darren Huckerby had been fouled by Jim Brennan.