What would Leicester City’s Howard bring to Huddersfield Town?

Mar 16 2010 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Steve Howard

HE’S already enjoyed four promotions – now Town fans will hope Steve Howard can play his part in a fifth.

The powerful 6ft 3in TowN frontline target fired in goals to help Luton Town rise from League II in 2002 and League I in 2005.

In 2007, he was a key man as Derby County won a place in the Premier League by beating West Bromwich Albion in a Wembley play-off final.

And last time around, the Scotland B international starred as Leicester City leaped back out of League I at the first attempt.

The goals might have proved harder to come by at Championship level this season, but there’s no doubt the 33-year-old has the skill and know-how to help get Town’s play-off bid back on track.

After all, he needs just four goals to reach 200 at club level in a career which began at Hartlepool United and also took in Northampton Town before Luton came calling.

Born in Durham, Howard grew up a keen Newcastle United fan and after leaving school, worked as a roofer while playing for non-league Tow Law Town, the club which also produced Chris Waddle.

Hartlepool gave him his big break into league football in the summer of 1995, and he rewarded their faith by notching 32 times in 164 appearances.

Northampton splashed out a club-record £120,000 for his services in February 1999, and after he netted 19 times in 95 outings, accepted Luton’s offer of a £75,000 package in March 2001.

The Hatters were desperate for goals in their bid to avoid the drop from League I, and while they were unsuccessful, Howard proved a star turn in helping them win promotion from League II at the first attempt.

He was top League II scorer with 24 as the Hatters finished runners-up to Plymouth Argyle.

It was the first of five consecutive campaigns in which Howard topped the Luton goal chart, and when he left for Derby in a £1m deal in the summer of 2006, he had notched 103 times in 228 games for the Kenilworth Road club.