Australian international Neil Kilkenny has joined Leeds United from Birmingham City.

The 22-year-old midfielder has joined on an emergency loan and will complete a permanent transfer early next week. The player was given clearance to make his debut against Northampton on Saturday.

Neil was on loan at Oldham Athletic - he played against United for the Latics on New Year's Day - and has made 20 appearances for the League One club this season.

His career started at Arsenal where he was a trainee, but Steve Bruce moved to sign him for Birmingham in 2004 and he has featured 26 times for the Blues.

Neil has had two loan spells at Oldham - the first in 2004/05 - and he won the Players Player of the Year during his first stint at Boundary Park.

Born in England and raised in the Australian city of Brisbane, Neil was also available to play for the Republic of Ireland, but he made his international debut for the Socceroos in a World Cup warm-up match against Liechtenstein in the summer of 2006.

Last year he played a part in helping the Aussies qualify for the Beijing Olympics.