Born: Newcastle July 19 1975. He joined the club on the youth training scheme back in 1991. Turned professional in October 1992 and that month made his senior debut. After a couple of campaigns spent chiefly on the substitutes bench the skilful midfielder and fine passer of the ball established himself in the first team last season when he also scored a number of spectacular goals. Scored the goal which effectively knocked Manchester United out of the Football League Cup in 1995.