Joel makes his mark on Ranieri

There were very few plus points for Claudio Ranieri to take away from Chelsea's UEFA Cup second round defeat in Tel Aviv.

But as the Chelsea coach turns his thoughts to Sunday's Premiership clash with Leeds at Elland Road he might find comfort in the calm way 17- year- old defender Joel Kitamirike made the step up to first team football.

The youngster was given his debut in the absence of more established defenders like Marcel Desailly, William Gallas and Graeme Le Saux, who stayed in London.

Apart from a couple of second half mix-ups with goalkeeper Mark Bosnich he produced an assured performance.

"I have quite a calm character," he said today. "Although it was exciting to make my debut I tried to treat it like any other game."

Despite his impressive debut he will drop out of the squad for the trip to Leeds.

Le Saux, Gallas, Emmanuel Petit and Albert Ferrer will figure in the line-up but there are doubts over the other two absentees. Desailly is still struggling with an Achilles tendon injury and Eidur Gudjohnsen has flu.

Leeds v Chelsea
4pm, Sunday, Elland Road Live on Sky Sports 1 & Extra