ROBBIE Fowler returns to Elland Road tonight, with Leeds United caretaker manager Eddie Gray claiming: "He should be knocking on England's door again."

After a lean spell with Manchester City, the former Leeds and Liverpool striker has recaptured his sharpness. Now he is poised to deliver a blow to Leeds' Premiership survival hopes even though the club's new owners will continue paying part of his wages.

Fowler failed to make the expected impact during his 14 months at Elland Road, where a hip injury took its toll, but Gray says: "I've always thought Robbie could be whatever he wants to be.

"When he's 100 per cent fit he's as good as any finisher I've seen. With his ability he should be knocking on England's door again. He's getting back to his best, looking a lot sharper and when he's fit and sharp he's a match for anybody.

"People forget that his hip injury here was a setback, a bad one to get over."

Gray wishes he had the embarrassment of striking riches David O'Leary had at his disposal when he was in charge at Elland Road.

"We were carrying an awful lot of strikers - Robbie Keane, Harry Kewell, Alan Smith, Mark Viduka, Michael Bridges and Robbie Fowler. You couldn't keep them all happy, players of that standing in the game and with their personalities," said Gray.

"Robbie Keane, for example, was a big loss to the club. They all want to start but that's not a problem I've got at the moment."

According to Gray he was not consulted by O'Leary about signing Fowler who O'Leary regarded as the last piece in the jigsaw.

Gray believes Leeds may need to win five of their remaining ten matches to avoid relegation.

Portsmouth managed a vital win against Southampton yesterday and Gray said: "Harry Redknapp was saying five wins from the last ten games would see Portsmouth safe and that blueprint for survival applies to us as well.

"We've got to try to win all our home matches and pick up something away as

well. That wee bit of spark was missing at Fulham in our last match. They bullied us physically and mentally. We need to tap into the big night atmosphere at Elland Road against Man City and Leicester like we did against Wolves."

Gray won't take any risks with Eirik Bakke who missed the Fulham defeat with a torn thigh muscle, so Stephen McPhail is expected to keep his place in an unchanged side.

Leeds' new owners were holding a press conference today to announce their plans for the future.

And new chairman Gerald Krasner believes the measures will find popularity with fans - even those who have been sceptical about the consortium's motives.

Krasner said: "We are going to announce a number of things of which I am sure all supporters of Leeds United will approve. We have a workable plan for Leeds United to move forward and today we will let people know the first stage of that plan."

Updated: 10:22 Monday, March 22, 2004