Exclusive by Andrew McKenzie BBC Sport Online

The sale of Woodgate infuriated Leeds fans

Leeds have insisted on a clause in Jonathan Woodgate's Newcastle contract preventing him from playing at Elland Road later this month.

But they have failed to prevent his former team-mate Lee Bowyer from returning with West Ham this weekend.

The �9m sale of star defender Woodgate to Newcastle last week infuriated Leeds fans and led to calls for the sacking of chairman Peter Ridsdale.

But the Yorkshire club have taken steps to ensure there is no backlash from the appearance of Woodgate in a black-and-white shirt when Newcastle visit on 22 February.

"Obviously it's quite political if Jonathan came back to Elland Road so soon after leaving," club secretary Ian Sylvester told BBC Sport Online.

West Ham didn't want to go along with it but Newcastle didn't have a problem Ian Sylvester, Leeds secretary

"We just agreed that we didn't want that to happen. The player's not fit anyway so I don't think it's an issue.

"It's something Leeds United wanted so the chairman asked me to put it in the agreement. Newcastle were quite happy to go along with it."

Sylvester also revealed the club requested a similar clause in the sale of Bowyer to West Ham, but the Hammers refused.

"West Ham didn't want to go along with it but Newcastle didn't have a problem with it," Sylvester added.

'Light training'

A thigh injury has kept Woodgate sidelined since 11 January, but a Newcastle spokesman confirmed that he took part in light training on Tuesday.

He was expected to be back to fitness in a fortnight, meaning he could have been in with a shout of making his debut in the trip to Leeds.

But he will now have to wait until 1 March to make his first appearance for the Magpies.

Leeds striker Mark Viduka, meanwhile, will serve a three-match ban after losing his appeal against being sent off in the FA Cup at Gillingham.

He was sent off for elbowing Gills' player-boss Andy Hessenthaler.

Viduka pleaded his innocence, but an FA statement read: "The red card therefore stands and Viduka will serve a three-match suspension, commencing this Saturday, February 8."

Leeds have a league match at home to second-bottom West Ham United on Saturday, meet Liverpool or Crystal Palace away in the FA Cup fifth round the following week and play Newcastle United in the league at Elland Road on 22 February.