Chilean footballer Bowyer to join Leeds United

Melbourne:

Leeds United will field a near full-strength line-up against Chilean soccer champions Colo Colo on Saturday after midfielder Lee Bowyer was sent to join the squad from England. Bowyer's proposed move to English Premier League rival Liverpool broke down on Monday. The 25-year-old is on his way to Australia and will link up with his Leeds teammates in Melbourne on Thursday, team officials said. The Leeds squad, which includes five Australians, arrives on Thursday morning after kicking off its Far East tour with a 5-1 win over Chinese second division club Green Town FC in Hangzhou. The touring Leeds party includes Australian stars Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, former Parramatta Power midfielder Jacob Burns, ex-Perth Glory goalkeeper Danny Milosevic and defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff. England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn (family reasons) and midfielder Seth Johnson (injury) are the only regular first-team players not making the trip to Australia. Former Australian coach Terry Venables will take charge of Leeds United in a match for the first time against Colo Colo. Venables missed Leeds' match in China because of pre-existing business commitments. Leeds will hold open training sessions Thursday and Friday at Victoria Park, the home of Australian rules football club Collingwood, of which Viduka is a keen supporter. (AP)