Three defeats in four league outings either side of the night Sven Goran Eriksson's Lazio side had been famously beaten in the Champions League had left David O'Leary's side in mid-table and some way off the pace.

Nevertheless, a sense of optimism pervaded at Elland Road ahead of Sunderland's visit just ahead of the festive season due to Harry Kewell and David Batty being back in the fold after several months out with injury.

Australian international Kewell had not started a game all season, while Leeds-born Batty's last action in a United shirt had been almost exactly a year earlier.

Both were expected to be given a rapturous reception but the reality saw the return of one proving infinitely more popular than the other with Batty's arrival from the bench 11 minutes from time bringing a bigger cheer than either of the goals scored that afternoon by Lee Bowyer and Mark Viduka as Sunderland were beaten 2-0.

Kewell may have been voted PFA Young Player of the Year the previous April and widely feted as one of Europe's brightest talents but that was nothing compared to the adulation afforded the local boy made good.

Sitting in the stand, Jonathan Howson was just one of many youngsters dreaming of emulating the players who had made United one of the most exciting teams in the land. Alan Smith was his hero but, like most Leeds fans, he took great pride in all those who had come through the club's ranks.

Fast forward almost a decade and Howson, now 21, is the standard bearer for the United Academy with almost 125 appearances since making his debut against Hull City just short of three years ago.

It is a mantle that sits comfortably on the shoulders of the affable Howson, who grew up just a mile or so from Elland Road in Morley. He said: "I love being a Leeds player who is from Leeds. I have always supported the club, ever since a young boy, so to come through and play for Leeds was everything I ever wanted.

"I joined the club at seven or eight-years-old, which is so long ago that it was the School of Excellence and not the Academy. At that age, you just want to play football and it was only as I got older that it became my real ambition to play for Leeds United.

"I used to go along to as many matches as I could. I remember us beating Besiktas 6-0 in the Champions League and going to school the next morning really tired because it had been a late night.

"We had a great team then but Alan Smith was always my hero. The way he played was brilliant and you could see how much Leeds United meant to him."

Howson had first played football for his local junior team, Churwell Lions, before being spotted by scouts for both Leeds and Huddersfield Town. Back then, he was a striker – not moving into midfield until shortly before being handed his first team debut at Elland Road by Dennis Wise – so took great inspiration from watching O'Leary's exciting young team.

He said: "What a team that was. We were great to watch because we scored so many goals. As a striker, I would try to pick up a few tips.

"But I also just enjoyed watching that team because they loved attacking. Players like Smithy, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell and Lee Bowyer were brilliant."

United's decline since the heady days of reaching the Champions League semi-finals has been steep with this season being the club's third in what used to be known as Division Three.

The slide down the league meant home-grown stars such as Smith had to be sold along with other Leeds-born future England internationals such as Aaron Lennon and James Milner.

It has made for a miserable few years at Elland Road but, with United having this term surged six points clear at the top of League One, a long-overdue reversal of fortune appears to be underway.

Not that Howson, belying a maturity that has already persuaded both Gary McAllister and Simon Grayson to hand him the captaincy, is getting too carried away.

He said: "We have got off to a good start but we are not even at the halfway stage yet so no-one is taking anything for granted.We all realise things could change quickly if we don't stay focused."

Mention of football's ability to shock brings us neatly on to tomorrow when Leeds will look to banish the memories of 12 months ago when Histon caused a huge upset by knocking Gary McAllister's side out.

As one of just four players from that shock defeat exit likely to be involved again at Kettering Town, Howson is keener than most to avoid a repeat.

He said: "Histon was a very disappointing day. If the television cameras hadn't been there, I don't think the game would have been played because the pitch was soaked.

"That is not me making excuses, just something I believe. The fact is we just didn't perform and didn't rise to the challenge. We probably learned a lesson that day."

Should Leeds battle through to the third round draw that will immediately follow the tie against the Blue Square Premier club, it will be the first time the club has negotiated two hurdles in the FA Cup since 2003 when they bowed out to Sheffield United in the quarter-finals.

Howson added: "I think we showed against Liverpool in the Carling Cup that something good is building here. I would love another crack at a big team."