SOCCER fans love to debate who has been the greatest-ever player.

But ask loyal fans to select the worst player ever to pull on their favourite team's jersey and it can be a different matter.

An Examiner poll saw Marcus Stewart chosen as Huddersfield Town's great player.

But who is the man deemed the biggest failure in the blue and white stripes?

Step forward ... George Donis.

Yes, the £1m import by Steve Bruce has been labelled as the club's worst player.

Who says so? Football writer Jeff Stelling, who has toured the country calling at every Premiership and league club to produce his book England's Worst Footballers.

The book, out this month, selects those misfits with the help of hundreds of fans.

Town fans came up with a number of names, says Stelling - but one man stood out.

Stelling writes: "Steve Bruce has a fantastic record in the transfer market, but he may not remember his first signing as Huddersfield boss with much affection.

"On the face of it, taking George Donis to the McAlpine Stadium was a bit of a coup. He had played at the very highest level in Greece, numbering nearly 150 games for Panathinaikos and AEK Athens.

"In theory he cost Huddersfield nothing as he arrive on a Bosman. In practice, it is estimated the club paid out £1m in various fees, not to mention wages.

"What's a Greek urn? A great deal, in this case! Donis would never repay his manager's faith. Loss of form, combined with injuries, meant Donis made just 10 league starts for Huddersfield and completed 90 minutes only four times - hardly enough time for the fans to nickname him "Donkey".

Stelling writes: "As Huddersfield Town slipped out of the promotion race, so Donis slipped out of the league. His last appearance was in a goal-less draw against Grimsby. He was subbed after just 54 minutes and not seen in blue and white stripes again."

The author adds: "There have been some great examples at clubs around the country. Arsenal's John Jensen was a successful Danish international - who scored one goal in 149 games for the Gunners.

"Ali Dia was bought by the then Southampton manager Graham Souness without him ever being seen. He came on as a substitute and was substituted himself in the same game - never to appear again.

"It is a book that promises to liven debates around the country," says Stelling.

* England's Worst Footballers is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, priced £7.99.