The Leeds United midfielder played in the 1-0 defeat against Argentina - but his Olympic experience was soured by didsappointment.

He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "The Olympics are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity but, looking back, I'd say it probably wasn't worthwhile.

"To be honest, I'd rather have stayed with Leeds."

He admits he had hoped for more game time in the other games and wasn't made to feel a wanted part of the team once he arrived in China.

"I didn't play as much as I'd have liked to in China and although the Australia manager (Graham Arnold) told me I was a vital part of the team, he took me there and only played me in one game," he said..

"I want to play football, and that was the disappointing thing for me.

" I'm not the type of person who'll go to places just for the ride – I would have rather not gone in a way because I didn't play as much as I wanted to and I didn't really feel part of it all."

He added: "It was quite hard to get involved (in the Olympic spirit) because we weren't even in the Olympic village.

" We were in Shanghai most of the time and we didn't get to go to the opening ceremony which was a disappointment. That's a big thing.

"I'm happy to be back because I'm a home person and Leeds is my home now. This is where I want to be."

Kilkenny is now trying to force his way back to into the regular first XI at Leeds after he returned to the club lacking match fitness.

"I didn't really have a pre-season and that was a bit of a problem," Kilkenny said.

"I'm not 100 per cent fit because I didn't do the running that the other lads did so I'm starting behind the rest of them. Everyone else is flying.

"But I'm back in the team and when a manager gives you confidence by playing you, and shows that he's got confidence in you, you want to play for that manager.

"That's what it's like with the manager at Leeds. He's playing me so I want to repay him.

"All I want to do is play football. That's why I came to Leeds in the first place – to play week-in, week-out."