this success. He was voted PFA Player of the Year in 1992 and was unlucky not to win more than 22 England caps.

After nine years at Old Trafford and 317 league appearances – and a further title success in 1996/97 following Bruce’s departure – Pallister’s career went full circle, leaving United to return to the north-east with Premiership new boys Boro for £2.5 million in the summer of 1998. All that success, and a £200,000 profit!

Pallister is still a regular face at Old Trafford, popping up on MUTV as a pundit. And though stopping goals is the thing he will be largely remembered for, his brace of headers against

Liverpool at Anfield which all but clinched the 1997 title burns brightly in any self-suspecting Red’s memory bank.