Dean Gordon heading for Albion?

Birth Place: Croydon

Birth Date: 02/10/1973

Playing Position: Defender

Signed: 10/03/2000

International Honours: England U-21 (10 caps)

DEAN will be hoping to leave the non-event, for him, of last season behind and start again.

Injury restricted the speedy left-back to just four appearances last term, and as the season drew to a close he was still having exploratory operations on his knee to remove debris from his cartilage.

Given the scarcity of genuinely left-sided players available to Kevin Keegan, a good season for Dean could see him add full England honours to his under-21 and B caps.

Dean made his name at Crystal Palace, for whom he made more than 200 appearances, and then joined Boro for £900,000 in July 1998.

He is an attacking wing-back with a powerful shot and the ability to provide telling crosses from the left.

His goal against Manchester United in the famous 3-2 win at Old Trafford was voted the club's goal of the season.

Now he has completed his recovery from a cruciate ligament injury and Christian Ziege has moved out, the left side defensive spot is Dean's for the taking and he can focus on performing well and giving Mr Keegan a nudge.