Tim Hobbs reporting

Harry Kewell ended his goal drought as Leeds muscled their way back into Champions League contention - for next year.

The inspirational Australian fired David O'Leary's men ahead against Southampton as they reclaimed third spot in the Premiership at nothing more than a canter.

Kewell's low left-footed drive was his first goal in almost a year and although it was not as spectacular as his winner at Sheffield Wednesday last April, it was certainly as crucial to a Leeds side that was understandably labouring after their midweek exploits.

But even though they were far from their best, O'Leary's young guns still had too much firepower for a Southampton side that came in search of a point and as result, more often than not pooled their resources in the wrong half.

Only after Robbie Keane had added to Kewell's opener did Stuart Gray's side emerge from their defensive shell and had James Beattie and sub Marian Pahars applied the vital touches to each other's late crosses, they could have made the most of Leeds' lethargy.

Indeed, had a linesman not wrongly ruled out Dean Richards effort towards the end, the Saints could have picked up their first points since Glenn Hoddle left the Dell.

Kewell had already gone off to a standong ovation by then, having opened the scoring and provided the only flashes of inspiration that ever looked like reaching the scales of Wednesday's dismantling of Deportivo La Coruna.

David Batty had had a strong penalty appeal turned down when Mark Viduka pressured Chris Marsden into giving Kewell possession and the Aussie had the simplest of tasks to grab an overdue goal with a low strike from the edge of the box.

Keane then dragged an effort wide and Lee Bowyer failed to seriously test Paul Jones after a surging run as Leeds passing sharpness returned and saw them continually pick their way through a packed Saints midfield.

But the visitors defensive gameplan looked set to frustrate the home fans even further after the break as Kewell wasted two of the few chances Leeds were afforded, either side of a smart Nigel Martyn stop that prevented Dan Petrescu stunning Elland Road with a breakaway leveller.

First he fired over from 25 yards and then, after Keane had cleverly held up play, saw Jones make a smart save when a second Leeds goal seemed a certainty. It was the Aussie's last contribution before he was replaced by Jason Wilcox.

It eventually arrived minutes later as one of the few times Southampton sloped forward as a unit, Ian Harte lifted the perfect pass over a flat backline for Keane to run on and touch a delicate lob high over Jones and in.

It ended the game as a contest and although the visitors could easily have snatched a consolation through Richards, Pahars and Beattie, Southampton's own quest for European football suffered yet another Gray day.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Harry Kewell (Leeds) - Grabbed the all-important opener and although he did not last the full 90 minutes, still proved he is back to his best on the left.

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke, Batty, Kewell (Wilcox 69), Viduka, Keane.
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Dacourt, Robinson, Smith. 

Southampton: Jones, Dodd, Richards, Lundekvam, Petrescu, Oakley, Marsden, Draper (Pahars 73), Bridge, Davies, Beattie.
Subs Not Used: Rosler, Moss, El Khalej, Tessem.

Att: 39,267
Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).