But manager Simon Grayson insisted today that he would not banish the midfielder from his starting line-up in the wake of Johnson’s decision to reject a new deal at Elland Road.

* Click here to sign up to free Leeds United email alerts from your YEP.

Johnson informed Leeds of his intentions yesterday morning and was immediately placed on the transfer list.

His existing three-year contract expires at the end of the season, a stage when United would lose the 23-year-old on a free transfer, and they have moved instead to invite offers for him in the January transfer window.

* Click here to watch the latest edition of our Leeds United preview programme The Boot Room.

Leeds paid £250,000 to sign Johnson from Northampton Town at the start of 2008 and the club are unwilling to allow him to leave without recouping some or all of that fee.

* Click here to visit the Leeds United webchat page.

Grayson, however, said the failure of negotiations did not signal the immediate end of Johnson’s career with Leeds, and he will be part of the squad which arrives at Carrow Road for tomorrow’s league game against Norwich City.

Johnson has started both of United’s last two Championship fixtures and Grayson gave no indication that he would drop the midfielder in response to his refusal to accept a new deal.

Grayson said: “It doesn’t mean he isn’t going to figure for the club.

He’s got the right to turn down the contract offer but we don’t want to run the risk of losing him on a free transfer.

“I’ve picked him for the past few games because he’s played well enough to be in the team and to stay in it. What’s happened doesn’t change the fact that I rate him as a footballer.

“If he starts playing poorly then I’ll take him out the team, like any other player. I won’t be influenced by his decision but if he’s not playing well then I’ll drop him. That goes whether you’ve got six months on your contract or six years.

“He’s entitled to do what he’s done but we’re entitled to do what we’ve done.