This is my best yet, says Bowyer

Lee Bowyer claimed last night that his remarkable season at Leeds had been the best of his career.

The 24-year-old midfielder, already voted player of the year by fans, has scored 14 goals in a campaign disrupted by his eight-week trial at Hull Crown Court.

Six of those have helped fire Leeds to the brink of the Champions League semi-finals and put Bowyer in the frame for the Golden Boot as the competition's top scorer.

Bowyer, who plays his first Champions League away tie since December tonight as Leeds defend a 3- 0 quarter-final, first-leg lead against Deportivo La Coruna, said: 'This has been my best season as a player. I felt I did well a couple of years ago, but this has been my most consistent spell since I've been at the club.

'I'm delighted with my form, but I have to give credit to the team and the management. They have helped me through it.'

Bowyer is neck and neck with Manchester United's Paul Scholes, Barcelona's Rivaldo and Monaco's Marco Simone in the race for the Golden Boot and only the Englishmen's sides remain in the competition.

Bowyer said: 'Of course, it would be fantastic to win the award but the main thing is to win in Spain and reach the semi-finals.

'If we get a goal, the game's over. We'll be under pressure but it's part of the challenge we relish.'