Fowler and Woodgate notable no-shows

Robbie Fowler and Jonathan Woodgate were both missing from the Leeds line-up at Chelsea tonight amid continued speculation over…

Robbie Fowler and Jonathan Woodgate were both missing from the Leeds line-up at Chelsea tonight amid continued speculation over their futures.

Fowler did not travel to London with the rest of the squad amid reports that his proposed move to Manchester City could be back on.

While there was no official update from Leeds, boss Terry Venables yesterday insisted that Fowler would have to stay at Elland Road to fine-tune his sharpness.

In the absence of Fowler, who was on the bench at Gillingham last weekend, Mark Viduka and Alan Smith were retained in the starting line-up, with teenager James Milner again a substitute.

READ MORE

Woodgate, meanwhile, who is the subject of interest from Newcastle, is still suffering from a thigh injury which is expected to keep him out of action for another fortnight.

The only change to the Leeds side which drew 1-1 at Gillingham in the FA Cup fourth round was therefore Danny Mills returning to replace Lucas Radebe.

Chelsea were still without former Leeds striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, meaning Eidur Gudjohnsen continued up front alongside Gianfranco Zola.

Emmanuel Petit, Boudewijn Zenden and Mario Melchiot dropped down the bench, being replaced by Marcel Desailly, who was back after suspension, Jody Morris and Jesper Gronkjaer.

Chelsea: Cudicini, Babayaro, Desailly, Terry, Gallas, Le Saux, Morris, Lampard, Gronkjaer, Gudjohnsen, Zola. Subs: de Goey, Zenden, Melchiot, Petit, Cole.

Leeds United: Robinson, Kelly, Mills, Matteo, Lucic, Wilcox, Bakke, Okon, Smith, Viduka, Kewell. Subs: Martyn, Harte, Radebe, Seth Johnson, Milner. Referee: J Winter