Leeds United footballers Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate have been questioned by police in connection with an alleged assault on a 19-year-old Asian man in Leeds city centre.

Bowyer, a former captain of England Under-21s, was arrested at his home at Linton near Wetherby.

Woodgate, 19, later chose to report to a Leeds city centre police station accompanied by his solicitor.

The pair were later released on police bail pending further inquiries.

The arrests follow an incident in Leeds city centre early last Wednesday when a young man, who was in a group of five Asian youths, was allegedly kicked and beaten by a number of white men following an argument outside a nightclub.

The unnamed man is stable in Leeds General Infirmary.

Motive 'unknown'

"At the moment we are trying to establish a motive for this assault. The victim suffered head injuries and is currently in hospital," said a West Yorkshire Police spokesman.

"We do not know how many white men were involved in the incident."

One eyewitness, who was working in a nearby fast food shop, said he rang the police while the assault was still in progess.

Simon Cook said: "An Asian guy came in the shop and screamed 'there is a fight, there's a fight, ring the police'.

"We ran out and we saw a group of three or four Asian lads. One of them was on the floor and he was getting kicked.

Bleeding and unconscious

We rang the ambulance and we were shouting 'the police are coming, stop, stop'.

"Eventually they stopped and ran off. The lad was still on the floor. It was very, very bad.

"There was blood coming out of his mouth and his head. He was unconscious."

Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale stressed no charges had been brought against the players, but added they would face serious internal discipline if they had broken the club's code of conduct.

He said in a statement: "Leeds United firmly believes that all players have a personal responsibility to act in a way that befits their position within the local community.

'Disciplinary action'

"If it is subsequently proven that this has not been in the case in individual circumstances, serious internal disciplinary action will be taken."

Woodgate and Bowyer have been key players to on Leeds' challenge for the Premiership title this season.

Defender Woodgate made his England debut last June against Bulgaria and is a candidate for this summer's Euro 2000 tournament.

Midfielder Bowyer is yet to be capped at full international level but he has scored nine goals for Leeds this season and is a regular in the England under-21 team.

He became Britain's most expensive teenager when he was transferred to Leeds from Charlton Athletic for around £3m in 1996.