Justin Hoyte Bio Send To Friend  

Having being loaned out to other clubs over the past few seasons, Hoyte was considered expendable at Arsenal in the summer of 2008 as they accepted a bid from Middlesbrough for his services.

The emergence of Bacary Sagna suggested that he would get few chances in the first-team at the Emirates and Boro were keen to sign a replacement for Luke Young.

Hoyte made his debut for Arsenal in the Premiership in May 2003 against Southampton in place of Jermaine Pennant. It was a brief debut, however - as he came on in the 89th minute.

The defender, an England Under-21 international, can play at left-back, in the centre of defence or out on the right.

Hoyte earned further first team experience in 2003/04 and was expected to become a squad regular in 2004/05. But the player joined Sunderland on transfer deadline day in August 2005 for the remainder of the campaign in order to build up his first team experience.

He made his debut in a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea but life was difficult as Sunderland endured the worst ever start to a Premiership season, resulting in McCarthy being sacked.

Hoyte then returned to Arsenal for the 2006/07 season and became the first choice at left-back, due to an injury to Gael Clichy and Ashley Cole's departure to Chelsea.

A useful squad player, Hoyte continued to deputise for the first-team in 2007/08, but was ripped to shreds by Nani in the 4-0 FA Cup defeat to Man Utd. He had become the first Englishman to score at the Emirates in January against Aston Villa, but his position at the club was not secure.

With Arsenal accepting an undisclosed bid from Middlesbrough in August 2008, Hoyte moved in order to find regular football and took over the right-back position from the departed Luke Young.