Last updated on .From the section Football

Kuszczak has not played a first-team game since May

Tomasz Kuszczak said he did not use the word "slave" to describe his frustrations at being denied a loan move away from Manchester United.

Kuszczak was widely reported to have used the term when discussing a failed switch to Leeds.

The Polish goalkeeper, 29, has yet to feature for United this season.

He said: "I did not use the word 'slave' in an interview I gave to the Polish newspaper SuperExpress, about my current position at Manchester United."

Kuszczak is hoping to force his way into the national squad for next summer's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

quote At no point during the interview did I use the word 'slave'

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson signed keepers David de Gea and Anders Lindegaard this year, forcing Kuszczak, who had hoped to replace Edwin van der Sar when the Dutchman retired in the summer, further down the pecking order.

Even the less experienced Ben Amos, 21, managed to move ahead of the Pole when he was picked for the earlier Carling Cup rounds.

Kuszczak, in a statement, added: "At no point during the interview did I use the word 'slave', or imply that the club was treating me like a 'slave'.

"What I did say has either been misinterpreted or misreported.

"It is important to clear this misinformation up because I have the utmost respect for the club and have not described my relationship with the club in this way because it is simply not the case."

Kuszczak, whose contract expires next summer, initially joined United on a season-long loan deal from West Brom in 2006 before moving to Old Trafford on a permanent basis the year after.

He appeared on the bench for each of United's last three Champions League finals and has made just 30 Premier League starts in his six seasons at United.