FOOTBALL: Leeds lions are the real plus for Sven

IT may have been a slightly disappointing result for Sven Goran Eriksson, but the emergence of Leeds duo Lee Bowyer and Alan Smith provided a major boost for the England coach.

I called for Bowyer to be given a chance in the England team last week, and the lad more than justified his call-up in his first hour of full international football.

Bowyer fitted in really well, laid on Smith's goal with an excellent cross and was one of the major plus points for Eriksson.

And coupled with the return of Jonathan Woodgate and the first- half contribution of Danny Mills, it was a good day all round for the Leeds brigade, even if keeper Paul Robinson didn't get on

That club's players had a major influence on the game, and several of them staked strong claims to be included in Sven's European Championship plans.

Smith was one of the bright sparks for England in his first start. I think, on his all-round display, Eriksson will have decided he is worth another chance.

He took his goal superbly. It was a first-class header. He was very aware of his club colleague Bowyer's position as he shaped to send in the cross, although he didn't have to do very much to elude his marker.

Smith showed controlled aggression and managed to keep his fiery temper under control throughout the game.

But that is something he will need to do all the time at international level.

The Leeds youngster has been compared to both Teddy Sheringham and Alan Shearer.

But his style is probably somewhere in between those two very fine strikers. Smith won't provide the subtle flicks of Sheringham or, perhaps, as many goals as Shearer.

But he has enough skill and scoring ability, as he showed at Villa Park, to make a more than useful contribution to the England cause in years to come.

Bowyer brings another dimension to England's play, and his ability to score goals from midfield is a useful addition to Eriksson's armoury.

The coach will be delighted to have finally got Bowyer into the team after all the controversy over his selection.

And he will have had a chance to get to know the lad at close quarters after spending five days in the training camp with him.

Eriksson will now have got to know him as a person rather than having to judge him solely on the publicity he has attracted in recent months.

The individual displays of Bowyer and Smith give him a pleasant selection problem for the opening European Championship game in Slovakia next month, even though he will be slightly concerned at the way his side went to sleep late on.

England were solid and well- organised in the first half, and deserved the lead that Smith gave them.

But after making all their second-half changes they didn't really settle, and lost their way a little bit.

Portugal showed what a good side they can be, and although they made nine changes at half- time, they looked as if they had plenty of strength in depth.

They will host the 2004 Euro finals, and they showed how strong they can be - particularly Newcastle United teenagar Hugo Viana, who was fantastic in the second half.

But Eriksson will be disappointed with the way his side lost the equaliser from a corner. It was a nothing goal.

England had a couple of let-offs from corners early on in the second half when the Portuguese hit the woodwork.

They didn't learn the lesson from those escapes and the marking was poor. Owen Hargreaves wandered away from the post and left a gap.

There was no real challenge on Costinha, and Eriksson will be concerned at the way his defenders lost concentration.

England played Hargreaves at right-back in the second half, but I don't think he would be used there in a competitive international match.

Hargreaves is more at home in midfield and both Mills, who did well in the first half, and Gary Neville, when he is fit again, would be ahead of him for the right-back spot.

Some people may be disappointed that England didn't win the game, but the main purpose of the game was to prepare for the European Championships.

And from that point of view, Eriksson will be a reasonably satisfied man.

The England coach has the likes of David Beckham, Sol Campbell, Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Darius Vassell coming back into contention for the Slovakia match.

Beckham will obviously come in on the right flank for that game, but it might be worth experimenting with Bowyer on the left side.

I've never been happy with Emile Heskey playing out there, and prefer to see the Liverpool man in the middle.

Bowyer, like David Dunn, can fill that problem left-sided position, and I would be inclined to give him a try.

But even if Bowyer and Smith don't make it into the Slovakian starting line-up, they can be satisfied that they have both established themselves in Eriksson's long-term plans.

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