Leeds captain Rio Ferdinand knows the championship is there for the taking if they reproduce the form which led to them clinching a UEFA Cup spot last season.

This time exactly a year ago David O’Leary’s side were languishing in 12th place, with a 2-1 St Stephen's Day defeat at Newcastle their fifth from their previous seven matches.

But in the remaining 19 games Leeds took 43 points from a possible 57. They won 13, drew four and lost just two to climb to fourth, ultimately missing out on the Champions League by two points.

A mirror image of that remarkable run would certainly be good enough to wrap up Leeds’ first title since 1992, and both Ferdinand believes it is possible.

‘‘At the halfway stage of the season, I am certainly a lot happier with the position we are in now compared to where we were this time last year,’’ said Ferdinand, still the world’s most-expensive defender at £18million.

‘‘The aim of everyone at Leeds United now is to repeat in the coming months the form we showed in the second half of last season.

‘‘If we can do that we will have a great chance of doing well.’’

Leeds, though, are right out of luck on the injury front before tomorrow’s clash with Southampton at the St Mary’s Stadium for which O’Leary is without nine players.

Robbie Keane (ankle), Eirik Bakke (ankle ligaments), Seth Johnson (leg), Harry Kewell (back) and Dominic Matteo (hamstring) join long-term injured Olivier Dacourt, Michael Bridges, Lucas Radebe and Jacob Burns on the casualty list.

Right-back Danny Mills, after serving a one-match suspension, along with youngsters Jamie McMaster and Frazer Richardson, are the only additions to the squad following the 3-0 Boxing Day win at Bolton.