Carle's casting a spell over Leeds

Date with destiny: Australian Nick Carle completes a dream tonight when he takes on Leeds in the Carling Cup at Elland Road

Nick Carle wants to be the latest Wizard of Oz to cast his spell on Leeds United. The Crystal Palace midfielder has been dreaming of taking a starring role at Elland Road ever since he was a teenager in his native Sydney.

Carle, 26, fell in love with English football after watching his Australian compatriots Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka shine for United as they reached the Champions League semi-finals and secured five consecutive top-five Premier League finishes.

Leeds have been locked in a tailspin ever since those days under David O'Leary but Carle insists the Yorkshire club's recent decline has not doused his determination to shine at Elland Road tonight.

Carle is optimistic that Palace can book their place in the Carling Cup third round for the first time since 2005.

He said: "I have never played against Leeds before but I know a lot about them because they had so many Australians in their side when they were doing well.

"They are probably still one of the most supported clubs back home in Australia, since they did well when the Aussies were there.

"When they had the likes of Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka and Paul Okon there was a fair bit of interest and people were very proud at seeing them play in the European games.

"That means it's always been one of the grounds I've wanted to play at.

"It's only the second game in the Carling Cup but the gaffer has said every competition is important to us this year.

"It's not about the competition being a money spinner or anything like that - we just want to win the game and do the best we can for the shirt."

Palace can ill afford a shock against the League One side tonight, having failed to even score in their first three Championship games this season.

The Eagles fired another blank against Burnley on Saturday, although they at least managed to snatch a point having been reduced to nine men early in the second half.

But Carle, who joined Palace in a £1million summer deal from Bristol City, insists it is still too early to write off his new side's chances of a successful campaign.

He added: "The way we played on Saturday shows we are a good bunch. I saw the turnaround that Palace had last season when they reached the play-offs after a slow start and that was a big reason why I wanted to come here.

"It has been a difficult start to the season. We have had patches where we've played some really good football, but we have talent in the dressing room and once we get it going, it will be okay."

Palace manager Neil Warnock is set to offer an unexpected lifeline to unsettled midfielder Ben Watson, as he seeks to plug the gap left by Shaun Derry's suspension.

Warnock has frozen out Watson, 23, ever since the former England Under-21 international turned down an improved contract at Selhurst Park.

He said: "I'm including Ben [tonight] but I still expect him to go before next week as we've had a couple more enquiries.

"I'm sure there will be a lot of activity before the end of the window."

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