The Irish international is dissatisfied with his role as a substitute at Elland Road despite turning down a £9 million move to Sunderland recently.

Keane said: "I love playing for Leeds. They are a fantastic club and can offer me everything I want in terms of ambition and achievement.

"I realise no professional footballer can be given a cast-iron guarantee of first-team football. I am willing to battle it out with anyone for a place in the side because I thrive on that kind of competition, but at this stage of my career, I cannot afford to spend week after week on the subs' bench waiting for a chance to impress in the closing stages of games."

No question but Keane is frustrated.

After an impressive World Cup, when he scored three times for Ireland, Keane returned to Elland Road to find new manager Terry Venables preferring Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and Harry Kewell.

Keane has featured only as a late substitute in Leeds's first two league games, though he did score a good goal in last week's opening 3-0 win over Manchester City.

Venables says he wants the striker to remain at the club and is under no pressure to sell following the sale of Rio Ferdinand to Manchester United.

Leeds, who beat West Bromwich Albion 3-1 on Saturday, are top of the fledgling Premier League table after two wins

Meanwhile, Ipswich midfielder Matt Holland says his family are his priority as he thinks over a move to Aston Villa.

First Division Ipswich last week accepted a bid in the region of £4 million for the player but Republic of Ireland international Holland rejected Villa's initial approach.

The 28-year-old has not completely ruled out the possibility of a return to the Barclaycard Premiership with Graham Taylor's side.

''My agent talked me through the offer and we decided I had to reject it,'' he wrote in the Independent on Sunday. That does not mean a move will not happen, but is part of the process of both sides trying to find a package acceptable to each.

''Now, my family is hugely important in my decision-making process and I need them to be happy and settled to go out on the pitch and do my best.

''Graham Taylor phoned me on Thursday night and spoke to me for roughly 45 minutes about the club, my football and ambition and his football and ambition, and he told me that he really wanted me to understand the factors that I had to consider. It was a fantastic chat that impressed me hugely. Now I must decide what to do.''

Villa made their offer for Holland whilst the player was away on international duty in Finland last week.

Ipswich are reluctant to sell but chairman David Sheepshanks blamed the downturn in football's economy for their decision to accept the offer.