Languishing with Blackburn in the lower regions of Nationwide Division One, the left-sided midfielder's career took an abrupt turn for the better when Leeds signed him for £3m in December.

Within three months he had been recalled to the England squad and won his third cap against Argentina at Wembley in March.

He had been the longest-serving player at Ewood Park, having joined the club as a trainee and making his first-team debut in 1990.

He was an integral part of the team that won the Premiership title in 1995 and in the following year he made his England debut against Hungary.

However, he was dogged by a cruciate ligament injury in the subsequent seasons and by the time he returned to full fitness, he couldn't stop Rovers from dropping out of the Premiership in 1999.

Being one of very few left-footed English midfielders in the Premiership, his international chances, once he had established himself in the Leeds first team, were always going to be good.