da marjack bet： For many years, Leeds United vs Newcastle United was a top fixture in the Premier League, but on Sunday they meet at Elland Road in a mouthwatering Championship clash.
da bwin： The Whites have been outside of the top flight since 2004, while the Magpies suffered a disappointing relegation just six months ago when Rafa Benitez was unable to save them from the drop.
This term, both clubs are eyeing promotion and they have enjoyed terrific starts to the campaign. Newcastle are sitting top of the table and eight points clear of third-placed Huddersfield Town, while Leeds are in the final play-off spot following a terrific run of form under the leadership of Garry Monk.
A sell-out crowd is expected for the Toon Army’s first visit to Elland Road since 2003. So ahead of the big match, Football FanCast have decided to take a look at five players who have appeared for both clubs over the years.
Gary Speed
The late Welshman was one of the best midfielders to grace the Premier League – and the turf at Elland Road and St James’ Park – and remains a hugely iconic individual for both sets of supporters.
Speed won the First Division title with the Whites before making 285 appearances in all competitions for Newcastle from 1997-2004.
A minute’s applause is planned in the 11th minute on Sunday to honour the memory of the number he wore for both clubs – sure to be an emotional moment.
Jonathan Woodgate
Although he suffered a number of injury problems during his time at St James’ Park, Woodgate was still a brilliant defender for both clubs.
The centre-back began his senior career with Leeds, making 142 appearances in all competitions, before moving on to Newcastle, his most memorable appearance coming in the UEFA Cup against Didier Drogba’s Marseille, and later securing a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid.
It didn’t quite work out for the former England man at the Bernabeu, but Woodgate served both Leeds and Newcastle well.
James Milner
The midfielder became the youngest player to ever appear in the Premier League when he made his debut for Leeds in 2002, at the age of 16 and 309 days, and impressed many clubs with his mature performances.
Milner made more than 50 appearances for the Whites before completing a £3.6million move to Newcastle because of his hometown club’s financial problems, where he scored 11 goals in 136 outings across all competitions over the course of four years on Tyneside – eventually leaving for Aston Villa.
Mark Viduka
Following an impressive spell in Scotland with Celtic, then Leeds United boss David O’Leary decided to take a chance on the Australian striker in 2000 – and it was a punt that paid off.
Viduka scored 59 goals in 130 Premier League appearances for the Yorkshire outfit and also appeared for Middlesbrough before joining Newcastle in 2007, becoming Sam Allardyce’s first signing at St James’ Park.
His spell on Tyneside was less fruitful though, netting just seven goals in 38 outings and failing to prevent the club’s relegation from the Premier League in 2009.
Alan Smith
The Yorkshire-born Smith came through the youth system at Leeds and made his first team debut against Liverpool at the age of 18 in 1998. He went on to score 56 goals in 228 appearances, including seven during the Whites’ 2000/01 Champions League campaign.
A controversial move to Manchester United followed in 2004 upon the Whites’ relegation to the Championship, before a switch to Newcastle for a fee of £6million in 2007.
Despite starting his career as a striker, much of Smith’s time with Newcastle was spent in central midfield.