Tommy Craig (1974/75 to 1977/78)

Tommy Craig was Britain's most expensive teenager and the most expensive player bought from Scotland when Sheffield Wednesday signed him from Aberdeen. The Scot played more than 200 games in five years for The Owls.

Terry Hibbitt's injury problems, as well as injuries to Cassidy and Smith, prompted Harvey to splash out on another cultured left-sided midfielder when he rescued the Glaswegian from struggling Sheffield Wednesday.

And Harvey believed that the arrival of him and Geoff Nulty, who signed on the same day, saved United from relegation in 1974/75. He fitted in seamlessly and when Harvey was replaced by Lee in the summer it was Hibbitt who was viewed as dispensable.

Small and stocky, Craig was not a speedy player. However, he had good vision and was an excellent passer, particularly with his silky left foot. He also played with aggression and was prepared to battle and work hard for the team.

Although United generally played a short passing game under Gordon Lee and Richard Dinnis, Craig had the ability to play accurate long balls to allow the Magpies to mix things up when required.

Tommy had an excellent long-range shot and scored a number of spectacular goals. He was also an expert penalty-taker.

Lee said during the 1975/76 season that Tommy tended to be impacted by the general mood of the players around him, playing better when the team-spirit was good.

Although Lee was surprisingly ready to sell him in the summer of 1976, Craig’s excellent form during 1975/76 and 1976/77 led to him being made captain of the Scotland-U23 team and winning his only full cap.

When Gordon Lee resigned in January 1977, Craig was one of the main protagonists in the “player power” incidents relating to the appointment of Richard Dinnis as temporary manager.

The arguments over the players’ contracts during the summer of 1977 and the links to Celtic and Tottenham were unsettling for Tommy.

With Geoff Nulty injured at the start of the 1977/78 season, Dinnis installed Craig as captain and, despite the disastrous form of the team, he was one of the few players who maintained his standards.

When Dinnis was sacked in November Tommy said “I have never felt so sick, the club is falling apart at the seams” and he handed in a transfer request.

New manager Bill McGarry initially put a block on any transfers, but Tommy became targeted by the crowd for a perceived lack of commitment. In January he was relieved of the captaincy and listed as McGarry believed that it was in the best interest of both parties that he left. Within hours he had completed a move to Aston Villa for £270,000, which was the highest fee United had received at that time.

Craig helped United reach the League Cup Final in 1985/76 and qualify for the UEFA Cup in 1976/77.