Franz Carr (1992/93 to 1994/95)

Franz Carr was Ossie Ardilles’ first signing when he arrived from Nottingham Forest for £250,000 in May 1991.

Having “won a few things” as a schoolboy sprinter he was, aged sixteen, offered and turned down a scholarship to go to university in Philadelphia as an athlete.

Carr was an apprentice with Blackburn Rovers before joining Nottingham Forest where he stayed for seven years and was a two-time Wembley winner. After a fall-out with Brian Clough he was loaned out a couple of times before moving to Tyneside. He had appeared at every age group from schools to Under-21 level for England.

On his day Franz Carr could be a matchwinner. Nicknamed “roadrunner” he had electrifying pace and could beat defenders with his sheer speed. He was also strong and hard to knock off the ball, but the end product was not always there. Inconsistency was also an issue.

He scored on his debut and played in the first eight games of 1991/92, but missed the majority of the campaign after breaking his knee in three places against Leicester. By the time he was ready to return Keegan was in charge.

Franz had always seen himself as an out-and-out winger, but Keegan demanded more from him in 1992/93 and Carr worked harder, chasing back and trying to win the ball as well as attacking.

However, the arrival of Robert Lee in September made him surplus to requirements and he moved to Sheffield United after an initial three-month loan period which commenced in January.