O'Leary tips Woodgate, Bowyer for England

LEEDS (Reuters) - Leeds United manager David O'Leary believes Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate should be available for England call-ups, despite the high-profile court case last year involving both players.

Bowyer was cleared of grievous bodily harm and affray following an attack on a student in Leeds city centre but his Leeds team mate Woodgate was found guilty of affray and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service.

"I think they should be picked for England," O'Leary told The Daily Telegraph newspaper on Saturday.

"A lot of people have gone to prison in this country and been picked for England. Tony Adams. He went to prison."

Bowyer and Woodgate were prevented from playing for their country while the court case was being heard but there have been widespread calls ever since that neither player should don an England shirt in the future.

"I couldn't personally care whether they are picked for England. That's for England to choose," O'Leary said.

"But, if a court of law found Bowyer not guilty, why shouldn't he be picked for England?

"And I personally think that, when Woodgate has completed his community service, I don't see any reason why he shouldn't be picked either. I see a different person in the way he conducts himself. A more serious type of lad.

"Do I care if they're picked? Not really. It suits me for them not be picked. They can have a nice rest over the summer instead of going to the World Cup.

"My bottom line is to keep this plc happy. My self-interest is served by them not being picked."

Bowyer, who faces a Football Association hearing on February 5 to answer charges of elbowing an opponent and abusing a referee, is a former England under-21 international and was the Leeds United player of the year in 1999 and 2001.

Woodgate captained the England under-18 team before breaking into O'Leary's Leeds side during the 1998-99 season.

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