A LITTLE Christmas cheer for the deflated Leeds United fans is the news that Robbie Fowler looks ready to complete his return after playing the second half of his side's game against Fulham on Saturday writes Richard Mulligan

The former Liverpool striker has been out since the summer with a hip injury but if he can continue his progress in the UEFA Cup tie with Malaga on Thursday, there is every chance he could start at the Reebok Stadium on Monday night.

That would send a winter chill rather than season's greetings across the Pennines to Wanderers fans who will remember only too well the hat-trick Fowler scored at Bolton on Boxing Day of last year.

Although the problems for Terry Venables are deeper than simply Fowler not being available, Leeds have struggled in the forward department with Mark Viduka, Alan Smith and Harry Kewell failing to offer the same service as the likes of Henry, van Nistelrooy and Owen.

Fowler, an amicable but determined fellow with 26 England caps and a fair few medals in his cabinet, is perhaps the kind of catalyst to get Leeds back on track after eight defeats in their last 11 league games.

Fowler admits it has been a frustrating time, but now hopes with his injury behind him he can help Leeds to climb clear of the relegation dog-fight they have been dragged in to.

"It's not been an ideal time for me to be out, but for me the season starts here," says Fowler. "I've missed a lot of the season so far and I want to play as much as I can now. I've come through recent run-outs so it's a case of where I go from here.

"It's not been the best of starts for Terry Venables, but it's not the worst either. You have to remember that we are under a different manager and we're trying different tactics more, but the players believe in Terry and it will get better.

"Hopefully me coming back will be a boost to everyone and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before things start happening.

"I've got to prove that I can do a job, but the manager knows what I can do because he picked me for England and is aware of what I am capable of."

Some people may question just what Fowler is now capable of, after a hip injury that was more serious than many were aware according to Leeds' physio Dave Hancock.

He said: "Fowler had a serious injury to the extent it could finish him and people don't really understand that."

It is almost 10 years since teenage hot-shot Fowler burst on to the scene at Anfield with a five goal haul in a League Cup game against Fulham in September 1993.

He went on to become the finest young forward in the country winning the PFA Young Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996, after already making a big impact on Wanderers when he scored four times against them in a Premiership game in September 1995.

After a series of injury problems and allegations about his private life the goals dried up a little in the late 1990s, when the new kid on the block Michael Owen became the darling of The Kop.

Fowler moved down the pecking order under Gerard Houllier with the arrival of Emile Heskey and Jari Litmanen, and was visibly moved to tears of anger when he was left out of the starting 11 in the 2001 FA Cup final.

Within six months he had departed the club he had been with since childhood and moved to Leeds for £11 million, where he was seen as the final piece of the jigsaw to help David O'Leary bring silverware to Elland Road.

Fowler bagged 12 goals in 22 games but Leeds faltered and could only finish fifth in the table. His hip injury had already begun to flare up towards the end of the campaign but he made England's World Cup squad. He has not started a first team game since.

Now back in contention he carries a huge weight of expectation upon his shoulders with Venables claiming: "You will struggle if you do not have your best player's such as Robbie at your disposal."

If he can quickly return to his prolific best, the underfire Leeds boss could yet be saved.

If not, Venables may be forced to watch Fowler's future from the comfort of the ITV studio.