LEEDS United striker Robbie Fowler tonight aims to take another step along the road to a first team comeback by facing his old club Liverpool at Wakefield's Belle Vue.

It will be Fowler's second home reserve game within a week and if all goes well it could be his first full 90 minutes' football since undergoing hip surgery in the summer.

Fowler played for 68 minutes of a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa reserves last Tuesday, scoring with a close-in header.

He said: "I was a bit rusty against Villa but I felt good, especially considering I hadn't played since the World Cup. I need a few more games to get my match sharpness back but I'm capable of doing that quite quickly."

Fowler is bursting to help Leeds recover from their poor start to the season - they have now gone six games without a win - but he won't be tempted to take risks by rushing back too soon. "The timing of my return rests with the manager and the physio staff," he said.

Alan Smith's two yellow cards in the 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough on Saturday mean he will be suspended for United's visit to West Ham on Sunday, November 10.

Larry Farren, United's 19-year-old Irish defender, has joined Unibond Premier club Hyde United on a month's loan.

Updated: 12:01 Monday, October 28, 2002