Luke Varney: 'I didn't refuse to play for Leeds United'

Blackburn Rovers loanee Luke Varney has insisted that he didn't refuse to play for Leeds United before he switched clubs.

Varney initially agreed to join Rovers permanently on transfer deadline day, but that move was reportedly blocked by prospective Leeds owner Massimo Cellino.

He has managed to move to Ewood park on loan since, but today clarified comments from Leeds boss Brian McDermott that he didn't want to play.

"Basically, I said to the manager that I was worried about getting injured but that if he did choose to play me, that I would give 100%," he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

"That was the end of that and he told me to go and train and then we'd have a chat after. He then came up to and said to me, 'listen Luke, we won't play [you], we'll play [El-Hadji Diouf]'.

"I said thank you to him as I was glad he understood my situation. I just thought I'd mention it as I didn't want him thinking my mind wasn't completely on the game."

Varney made his Rovers debut from the substitutes' bench against Middlesbrough over the weekend.