PLAYER PROFILE

Lee Bowyer

Position: Midfield

Height: 5'9

Weight: 9st 11lbs

Date of Birth: 1977-01-03 Canning Town, England

Lee Bowyer

Lee Bowyer rejoined West Ham in June 2006 after Newcastle agreed to allow the unsettled midfielder to return to his native London.

The Magpies did not received an upfront payment for the 29-year-old but will be entitled to a share of any future sell-on fee.

Bowyer failed to impress during his injury hit six-month stint with West Ham United during the 2002-03 season, but boss Alan Pardew is confident the tough-tackler's second spell at Upton Park will be more successful.

"I am delighted to have a player of Lee's calibre on board," Pardew told the club's official website.

"In some quarters, it will be regarded as a controversial signing because Lee has had disciplinary problems in the past, both on and off the pitch, and he did not play well during his last spell at Upton Park.

"But he has matured as a player and as a person. My scouts tell me he was Newcastle's best player in the last three months of the season.

"He is one of the most talented midfield players in the country but he has won nothing. I am convinced that is now going to change.

"I want players who are hungry for success. I think Lee is coming into a completely different West Ham scenario to the last time and I think our fans will see the real Lee Bowyer this time round."

Bowyer made 10 Premiership appearances during his first spell with West Ham, but was unable to help the club avoid relegation.

The ex-Leeds star then joined Newcastle on a Bosman free transfer and went on to score six times in 79 Premier League outings for the Magpies.

Following West Ham's relegation in May 2003 Lee Bowyer decided not to renew his contract with the club. As a free agent his signature was in popular demand, but it was Newcastle United who won the race signing the East Ender on a four-year deal.

As a life-long West Ham fan Bowyer had jumped at the opportunity to sign for the Hammers in January 2003, but could not rescue them from the drop, missing their crucial run-in due to injury.

He is without doubt a talented player, and had it not been for his much-publicised court case, would surely be a regular in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England squad by now.

The former Under-21 international has made a solitary appearence for the senior side, playing in a friendly against Portugal. He had the best season of his career in 2000/01 and was voted the Leeds player of the year by supporters. There were repeated calls to see his inclusion in the England squad, but to no avail.

Now that he has been cleared of all charges relating to the assault on an Asian student, Bowyer should be free to be selected. But a combination of injuries, suspensions and the FA's unwillingness to clarify their position meant that he did not join the World Cup party for Japan/South Korea 2002.

He is the kind of combative, skilful, goalscoring midfielder that every manager wants in their team and nobody likes playing against. The London born player reached double figures with his goalscoring exploits during 2000/01 and was a key ever-present in a Leeds squad blighted by injury.

The former Charlton player was the most sought after player in the summer of 1996, nearly all the Premiership clubs enquired after his services. He chose Leeds as he felt he would have the chance to win medals with the Yorkshire club. In doing so he became the country's most expensive teenager at the time.

Bowyer won a string of England Under-21 caps in his early time at Leeds, having made an excellent start for the club. The controversial midfielder amassed over 250 appearances for Leeds and breached the 50 goal mark for the club - a record that any striker would be proud of.

However, following O'Leary's departure from the Yorkshire club in the summer of 2002 the England international refused to sign a new contract. With his contract due to expire at the end of the 2002/03 campaign Leeds decided to get what they could for Bowyer off loading him to West Ham for a cut price.

His first season at St James' Park was blighted by injury and he made just 25 appearances for the Magpies.

However, controversey struck in the 2004/05 season. Although the campaign went well with Bowyer scoring 6 goals in 39 games, his temprement was always a problem. All in all, he clocked up 11 yellow cards and 3 reds in the course of the camapaign!

However, in April worse was to come. In an 3-0 defeat against Aston Villa, Bowyer was involved in an on-field scuffle with teammate Kieron Dyer. Both men were sent-off and, although they later made up, Bowyer accepted that the debacle was mainly his fault and was fined six weeks wages (about £200,000). He will also face a court hearing after being charged with a public order offence.

This affected his footballing reputation when, after Birmingham made an offer for him, Blues fans petitioned the club objecting to the signing of Bowyer. The deal fell through, but Bowyer eventually found a home at West Ham who signed him up in 2006.

His first season at Upton Park was a mixed one as he suffered a dislocated shoulder in January 2007.

He will be hoping to avoid such troubles in 2007/08.