10 Players You Didn't Know Were On Trial At Newcastle United

2. Isaac Okoronkwo

Either you're sat there now scratching your head at this name and labouring over the pronunciation, or you're a Football Manager veteran who can't believe that Newcastle passed up the option to sign the man you regard as the greatest defender to ever play the game. Back in the winter of 2002 Newcastle found themselves 8th in the Premier League, but with a defensive record comparable to clubs in the bottom five. Bobby Robson began looking at a number of options, and Okoronkwo, who had impressed alongside Joseph Yobo in the summer's World Cup, was invited over from Shaktar Donetsk for a trial period. Now, Robson obviously wasn't a Football Manager player, as if he was he'd have signed him on the spot. The Nigerian being, at the time, the must-buy player of what was then the Championship Manager series' 01/02 edition. Capable of playing anywhere across the back four, Okoronkwo was the definite purchase for any player wanting to take his side into Europe. In reality, he wasn't that impressive, as his handful of games for relegation bound Wolves eventually proved. He's now consigned to the FM legends bin alongside Mark Kerr and Tonton Zola Moukoko. In the end, Robson opted to stick with his pairing of Nikos Dabizas and Andy O'Brien, before coughing up £9 million for Jonathan Woodgate as soon as the transfer window opened. Went on to: Capture the hearts of Britain's bedroom managers, but little else. Not considered as good as: Titus Bramble, Nikos Dabizas, Andy O'Brien.