People have been talking about Bowyer as a potential England international for three years and injury to skipper David Beckham makes his contribution all the more important. Figo suffered World Cup disappointment with Portugal in the summer just weeks after helping Real Madrid win their second Champions League in three seasons.

LEE BOWYER (Midfield, England) v LUIS FIGO (Midfield, Portugal)

KNOWN FOR

Bowyer: Goalscoring midfielder, high-profile court case, Cockney who has settled in Yorkshire

Figo: Fonz lookalike, controversial move from Barcelona to arch rivals Real Madrid, 25-yard stunner against England at Euro 2000

HIGH

Bowyer: Major force behind Leeds reaching Champions League semi-finals in 2000/01; Leeds fans voted him player of the season

Figo: European player of the year after he led Portugal to Euro 2000 semi-finals, scoring in a 3-2 win against England along the way.

CURRENT FORM

Bowyer: Has already scored a couple of goals worthy of being Goal of the Season candidates, most notably his first-time chip at West Brom. A summer move to Liverpool fell through leaving his long-term future at Leeds unclear. But it doesn't appear to have affected his club performances, as high-octane as ever

Figo: Plagued by injury last season and looked a passenger in Real Madrid's historic Champions League victory against Bayer Leverkusen. Showed only glimpses of his best in a disappointing World Cup but says he's fully fit now and raring to go. Madrid won their opening Liga game on Sunday 2-0 but it was McManaman, not Figo, on the scoresheet

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THEMSELVES

Bowyer: "I'm just so glad to finally be given a chance to prove that I can play at international level - that is all I have ever wanted."

Figo: "If I don't touch the ball for five minutes, I start going crazy."

HISTORY

Bowyer: Howard Wilkinson raised a few eyebrows in 1996 when he paid Charlton a record fee for a teenager, £2.6million, for Bowyer. It has turned out money well spent for Leeds with Bowyer's midfield dynamism making him the key figure in David O'Leary's youth revolution at Elland Road. Leeds finished third in the Premiership and then reached the semi-finals of first the UEFA Cup and then the Champions League. Bowyer's contract at Leeds runs out at the end of the season and he is still undecided whether to stay with new boss Terry Venables

Figo: Regarded as one of the world’s elite players in a select group that also includes Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Zidane and Beckham. Figo made his debut for first club Sporting Lisbon at the age of 16 and was one of Portugal's so-called 'Golden Generation' that won the world under-21 championships in 1989 and 1991. Became an idol with Barcelona where his partnership with Rivaldo made the Catalans the glamour club in Spain ahead of Real Madrid. Voted European Player of the Year after starring in Euro 2000, Figo celebrated in controversial fashion - joining Madrid for a world record £37million; a figure only eclipsed since by Zinedine Zidane. Barca fans were furious and greeted his return to the Nou Camp for a league game with unprecedented catcalls and pelting him with coins, oranges and even mobile phones. Figo helped Madrid win the Champions League in their centenary season earlier this year although ankle problems prevented him from showing his best form.

COMPARISON

"It would be wrong to judge a player without having him in the squad - and a friendly is a good time." Sven Goran Eriksson on Lee Bowyer

"They say he has the Devil in his boots," Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias on Luis Figo

Compiled by Joe Bernstein