Danny Graham Gets The Ball Rolling

Last updated : 08 June 2007 By Thetashkentterror
The 21-year old scored seven goals in just eleven starts for United in his three month loan spell from the Teesiders at the end of last season, and with the striker out of contract at the Riverside this summer the Blues have long been keen to snap up Graham on a permanent contract. That month-long signature chase finally coming to end today with Danny signing a two-year contract with the Cumbrians.

Gateshead-born Graham will certainly not be the last forward through the door at Brunton Park in the close season though with United, due to the departure of Derek Holmes, Karl Hawley and Joe Garner, probably looking to bring in another two strikers on permanent deals.

Graham started his career with Chester-le-Street in the Northern Premier League before being signed by the Teeside giants in 2003, Danny going on to score 21 goals in 20 appearances for the 'Boro under-19 side in the 2003-04 season.

The former England Under-20 international then went on loan to Darlington late in that campaign to gain some senior experience where he bagged two goals in nine matches for the Quakers, Danny's form at the Riverside resulting in the award of a one-year professional contract in the summer of 2004. Graham was lucky enough to make his first team debut at Old Trafford against Manchester United in October 2004, his debut goal for the Teesiders then coming in a 2-2 home draw with Charlton Athletic in February 2005.

A two-year extension to his pro-contract was forthcoming in the summer of 2005 but with Middlesbrough's strikers in such good nick he struggled to make an impact behind such stars as Massimo Maccarone, Mark Viduka, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Aiyegbeni Yakubu and he found himself out on loan again, this time at Derby County for three months, in November 2005. Graham failed to find the net at Pride Park in 14 matches, and was loaned out again on deadline day in March 2006, joining Leeds United for the remainder of the campaign, where he again failed to score in three outings.

Danny failed to impress at Elland Road enough to earn a permanent move to West Yorkshire though and in July 2006, Middlesbrough decided to let him go to Blackpool on loan for a month at the start of the season, where he scored once in four games. His loan spell with the Cumbrians that started at the turn of the year was broken up by a shin problem four weeks in, but his form on his return was enough for the Blues to look to bring him on a permanent deal, which is where we are today with Danny penning a two-year contract at Brunton Park.


First Team Transfers 2007-08
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