Scott Sellars (1992/93 to 1995/96)

Scott Sellars was a left-sided midfielder who was signed by Kevin Keegan in March 1993 to help Newcastle make the final push for promotion to the Premiership. He played a significant part in achieving that goal and establishing the club in the Premiership.

The Yorkshireman began his career at Elland Road before spending six seasons at Blackburn where he helped them gain promotion in 1992. With his contract up, Sellars went back to Leeds, but it was an unhappy return as he was rarely played.

A former England-U21 international, Sellars was highly skilled with a precise left foot and excellent vision, all assets which made him ideally suited to Keegan’s one-touch quick passing tactics.

Scott was also a major asset in dead-ball situations with his ability to strike the call with accuracy and curve. And although slightly built he was deceptively strong.

As the 1992/93 season was approaching it’s final run-in Keegan signed Sellars to replace Kevin Sheedy. And after taking a few games to get back his sharpness and match fitness, Scott became a significant figure in the promotion push. Memorably, he scored a superb free-kick winner against Sunderland in April.

Scott was taken to hospital after collapsing during a training session in August 1993 and subsequently missed the first couple of months of United’s inaugural Premiership season because of pleurisy. However he marked his belated start with a goal against Wimbledon in the Coca Cola Cup and went on to miss only one more game.

"Salty" was at the top of his game as United made a storming start to the 1994/95 season, but fate was to deal a cruel blow. He had felt a stabbing pain in his knee during the match at Old Trafford at the end of October and a few days later, in Bilbao, the pain returned with a vengeance and he had to hobble off.

A specialist confirmed serious damage to the knee with the only treatment being complete rest. "One moment I was in the best form of my life and the next it seemed my entire future as a football player was on the line." Keegan got him involved with the backroom staff to keep up his morale, but Scott ended up being out for the rest of the season.

Although Sellars played in most of the 1995/96 pre-season games Newcastle had signed David Ginola and the Frenchman took his place in the side. After a handful of appearances Scott, now thirty, moved to Bolton.