NEWCASTLE were last night urged to pick Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer against their old club Leeds at Elland Road on the season's opening day.

The two clubs agreed Newcastle should ban Woodgate from playing when they clashed at Leeds last February.

They were keen to protect him from a possible supporters' backlash - less than a month after his £9million transfer. The England central defender was even told to stay away from the ground because the situation was too sensitive.

Now Bowyer is poised to make his League debut for Newcastle on August 16 at Elland Road where some fans remain bitter over his refusal to sign a new contract before joining West Ham for a paltry £150,000 last January.

However, John Boocock, chairman of the Leeds United Supporters Trust, believes fears of a big anti-Bowyer and Woodgate demo are exaggerated.

He said: "I honestly don't think there will be the 'Judas' chants we had when Gary McAllister came back to play against us.

"Woody was very popular at Leeds and didn't really want to leave. He was sold because Leeds needed the money.

"I suppose if anyone has a go at Bowyer it will be the politically correct mob, but more people will have sympathy for him over the way the club handled his situation after the court case. "

Updated: 11:42 Friday, June 20, 2003