Danny Pugh | Stoke City
Starting with the Potters and Danny Pugh in particular who, despite making nearly 30 appearances for the Potters in their promotion winning season, has had his first-team appearances limited during Stoke’s first Premier League campaign. Thus, the former Leeds United player has spent the majority of the 2008/2009 season playing second fiddle to the likes of Danny Higginbotham.
Stoke managed to stay clear of relegation and enjoyed a great first season in the top flight by securing their Premier League status for at least another season with one game to spare.
Games: 11 (8) Goals: 1 Yellow Cards: 0 Red Cards: 0
Despite leaving the realms of Deepdale in search of Premier League football, the former North End stopper has found himself playing second fiddle again. His move to Wigan was to play provide cover for Chris Kirkland and John Filan meaning his appearances were limited to just the one solitary Carling Cup appearance. As a result, a January transfer saw the former Manchester City ‘keeper move to Goodison Park to team up with another former Lilywhite David Moyes where he is yet to make a single first team appearance. Nash was an unused substitute for the FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.
Wigan Athletic
Games: 1(0) Goals: 0 Yellow Cards: 0 Red Cards: 0
Everton
Games: 0 (0) Goals: 0 Yellow Cards: 0 Red Cards: 0
David Nugent | Portsmouth
One of North End’s most favourite son’s has endured an encouraging season at Fratton Park having forced his way into the Pompey team under Tony Adams and Paul Hart. As well as breaking into the Pompey first-team, the Huyton born striker broke scoring duck when he netted the opener superbly for Pompey during a 1-1 draw against Spurs. ‘Nuge’, who spent the last day of the Championship season cheering on his former colleagues during the dramatic 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers, has largely been deployed in a wide-right position under Paul Hart and has been reaping the plaudits as a result. Pompey sealed their Premiership status with two games to go without even playing after results went their way.
Games: 16 (3) Goals: 3 Yellow Cards: 1 Red Cards: 0
Kevin Kilbane | Wigan Athletic & Hull City
Another player who left the JJB stadium for pastures new was former Everton and Sunderland midfielder Kevin Kilbane. Phil Brown deemed Kilbane to be an ideal signing to help keep the Tigers in the Premier League and so a fee, said to be in the region of around £500,000, was agreed between the two clubs.
Due to several defensive injuries, Kilbane ended the season playing in an unfamiliar centre-back role for Hull who managed to avoid a quick return to the Championship despite losing to Manchester United on the final day of the season thanks to Newcastle’s defeat to Aston Villa.
Wigan Athletic
Games: 5 (7) Goals: 0 Yellow Cards: 1 Red Cards: 0
Hull City
Games: 14 (1) Goals: 0 Yellow Cards: 1 Red Cards: 0
David Healy | Sunderland
Much like Kilbane and Hull City, Kilbane’s old club Sunderland sealed their Premier League status for next season on the final day. Healy made a cameo appearance in the Black Cats’ final game of the season at home to Chelsea which signifies what his first season on Wearside has been like. Healy failed to start a single Premier League game instead being utilised in cup games to give Kenwyne Jones and Djribil Cisse a rest.
However, it didn’t take Healy long to score his first goal for Sunderland. The Northern Irish international opened his Sunderland scoring account on his debut in one of the aforementioned cup outings away at Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup. The former Leeds United striker came on as a second-half substitute and netted the winner in a 2-1 extra-time win.
Games: 2 (8) Goals: 4 Yellow Cards: 3 Red Cards: 0
Andrew Carroll | Newcastle United
Local boy Andrew Carroll has played a bit-part role for the Magpies in the 2008/2009 season having been asked to deputise for the often injured Michael Owen, Mark Viduka et al but has at least waded in with the odd goal for his boyhood team. However, to the dismay of Gateshead born striker, it has proved to be not quite enough as Newcastle United and Carroll himself are set for a Deepdale visit next season in the Championship. Former Blackburn Rovers winger Damien Duff hammered the final nail in the Geordies coffin with an own goal against Aston Villa on the final day.
Games: 6 (10) Goals: 3 Yellow Cards: 2 Red Cards: 0
Dickson Etuhu | Fulham
The former Manchester City midfielder is considered as somewhat of a villain amongst many North End fans, for reasons that don’t need an explanation, but is a player who has at least prospered since his departure. Having joined Fulham from Sunderland in the summer, Etuhu managed to force his way into Roy Hodgson’s first team and has proved to be an integral part of the Cottagers’ top seven finishing team. Fulham’s season proved to be a stark contrast from the 2007/2008 campaign where the West London outfit only managed to avoid relegation on the final day of the season. Fulham will partake in the all new Europa League next term as a result of their lofty finish.
Games: 23 (2) Goals: 1 Yellow Cards: 1 Red Cards: 1
Another former Lilywhite who is a Premier League Potter is striker Richard Cresswell. ‘Cressy’ completes the trio of ex-Preston players who are currently part of Tony Pulis’ first team along with the aforementioned Danny Pugh and Ricardo Fuller. Much like Pugh, Cresswell was a regular for Stoke in their promotion winning season making over forty appearances but was unable to repeat his fortunes during the 2008/2009 campaign and instead has had to settle for a bit-part role. As a result, Cresswell’s only goal was in the League Cup when the Potters beat Cheltenham at Whaddon Road. Cresswell netted the second before a certain Jon Parkin slotted home the third which proved to be his last goal in Stoke colours.
Games: 15 (19) Goals: 1 Yellow Cards: 6 Red Cards: 0
Ricardo Fuller | Stoke City
After exceeding everyone’s expectations, the media especially, Stoke City now find themselves guaranteed at least another season in the Premier League. Such a feat is partly down to the goal scoring prowess of Jamaican international Ricardo Fuller. The former Hearts striker, who joined the Potters in 2006 from Southampton, has managed to form a formidable partnership with James Beattie which, in part, manager Tony Pulis can attribute his side’s success down to. In the end, Stoke finished in a very comfortable 12th place in their first season back in the top flight. However, despite the positives, one of the most memorable points in the 2008/2009 season would have to be Fuller’s on-field bust up at Upton Park against the Hammers with teammate Andy Griffin which saw him dismissed and facing a suspension.
Games: 26 (11) Goals: 11 Yellow Cards: 11 Red Cards: 1
