Soccer: Woodgate, Duberry on the way back - Risdale
Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale has confirmed that both Jonathan Woodgate and Michael Duberry could be back in action before the end of the month following the collapse of the trial into an alleged assault on Asian student Sarfraz Najeib.
Woodgate and Elland Road team-mate Lee Bowyer now face a re-trial later this year, while Duberry was last week cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Bowyer has played an inspirational part in Leeds’ recent rise up the Premiership table and their incredible Champions League challenge, with a 3-0 quarter-final first leg win over Deportivo La Coruna taking them to the brink of a place in the last four.
But Woodgate has not played any first team football during the last 10 weeks the original trial was in progress due to a heel injury, with a comeback attempted in the reserves only for the pain to prove too great.
And Duberry’s rehabilitation from a ruptured Achilles which he sustained in September - was also placed on hold due to the court case.
It is doubtful that either will figure in David O’Leary’s immediate plans but Ridsdale said: "Both Jonathan and Michael are now available to David, as they have been all the way along, subject to fitness.
"Michael Duberry will be hopefully fit in the next three or four weeks, he would have been fit by now had he been receiving treatment and been able to train during the trial.
"And Jonathan hasn’t trained over the last few weeks but he trained yesterday and could be back in contention within the next couple of weeks."
Woodgate and Bowyer, meanwhile, will not be considered for England duty until the end of the case, which is likely to be in December.
Both players will now miss the remaining World Cup qualifying matches and possible play-off in November.
FA head of communications Paul Newman said: "Following the ruling by Mr Justice Poole at Hull Crown Court, the FA’s position in relation to this matter remains unchanged.
"As we stated in March last year, when the charges were brought, the FA believes it is in the best interests of all concerned that the players should not be considered for representative honours with England until the case has been resolved by the court.
"As the legal process now looks likely to take a considerable time to complete, it would be inappropriate to make any further comment."
In response to that decision, Ridsdale added: "The FA taking a stance that says nothing has changed is not dissimilar to us doing exactly the same, so so be it."
