Powerful attacking right-back signed by Kenny Dalglish for £1.5m
from Bradford City just before the 1997 transfer deadline. An England Under
21 International, Des came through the ranks at Bradford to establish a
reputation as one of the best defenders in the Nationwide League by the
age of 20. He scored in both the semi-final and final of the 1996 play-offs
to help City into the First Division and was chosen for the Nationwide
League representative side which met the Italian League in Genoa in March
1997. Though he failed to break into the Newcastle first team in the seven
weeks of 1996-97 he spent at St. James' Park, Des (real name Derrick) is
clearly first team material now and in the future.
