Joined his home-town club after failing to make the grade at Manchester United and is now the only player left at the Stadium of Light from when Peter Reid arrived.
Started his career as a left-winger before Reid switched him to full-back to accommodate Allan Johnston and his skills on the ball have marked him out as a classy left-back.
Missed a penalty in the 1998 Play-off final to deny Sunderland a Premiership place, though he followed this with some fine displays during the 1998/99 season.
After impressing Kevin Keegan, he made his international debut against Hungary in April 1999 and also played against Sweden during the Euro 2000 qualifier. Has three caps, which he would seem unlikely to add to.
An injury-hit 1999/2000 meant he had to fight for his first-team place and missed out on the Euro 2000 reckoning.
Shone for Sunderland as they returned to the Premiership and secured consecutive seventh place finishes.
However, as the club struggled in the 2001/02 campaign he did too, and towards the end of the season was linked with a move.
Still a great favourite, and by the start of the 2002/03 season he had played 372 games for Sunderland.
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