Ex-Files: Dickson Etuhu
Just like the chant said, 'he came from Man City and is six foot two', a fresh faced 19 year old midfielder named Dickson Etuhu arrived at Deepdale in the summer of 2002 for a fee of £300,000.
With his towering presence in midfield and box to box mentality, likenesses were already being made to that of former Arsenal captain, Patrick Viera.
Etuhu spent four years as a North Ender and was regarded as being instrumental in Billy Davies' Play-Off Final reaching team of 2005, attracting the attention of other Championship managers in the process. The Deepdale faithful were expecting big things the following season from the Nigerian international and got himself on the score sheet on the first day of the season in a 2-1 win over Watford. However, many Preston fans felt that Etuhu wasn't reaching his full potential and found him frustrating as they knew that he was capable of bigger and better things.
Billy Davies perhaps shared the same view as things didn't turn out they way Preston fans, nor Etuhu himself had hoped and was sent out on loan to Norwich after falling out of favour and was omitted from the first team. He went on to make 8 appearances for Norwich during his loan spell, including the game at Carrow Road in what will be remembered for 'that tackle' on Adam Nowland which broke his leg. His loan move then became permanent after a fee of £450,000 was agreed between the two clubs in the 2006 January transfer window.
A determined Dickson Etuhu came back after the summer break two weeks early to ensure he was in the best possible condition ahead of the new season, showing to his relatively new club that he was committed to the cause. He clearly reaped the rewards of his pre season endeavours as he enjoyed his best season yet; winning three player of the month awards and scoring seven goals. The Nigerian international made a total of 62 appearances for the East Anglia club before he was transferred to newly promoted Sunderland for £1.5m in the summer.
Many saw the addition of Etuhu to Roy Keane's squad as somewhat of a surprise but in all fairness, Etuhu has been one of Sunderland's most consistent performers this season in their bid to beat the drop back to the Championship. Etuhu has pulled on the red white shirt of Sunderland 19 times this season and has found the net once. His most recent performance was in the away defeat to Portsmouth on the 23rd February as a knee injury has prevented him from making any appearances since.