10 Strangest Ever Newcastle United Signings

5. Des Hamilton

Hamilton holds the distinction of making his European debut for Newcastle at the Nou Camp during a 1-0 defeat to Barcelona in a Champions League clash in 1997. It leaves a sour taste. For some reason Kenny Dalglish, a marauding midfielder himself during his playing career, saw enough potential in Hamilton to line Bradford's pockets to the tune of £2 million - a club record transfer windfall for the Division One side - with the Scot convinced he could make a player out of 22-year-old.

But it was soon apparent that Dalglish had signed an expensive dud and Hamilton's career at St James' Park sunk like a lead balloon. Neither Ruud Gullit or Sir Bobby Robson fancied the one-cap England under-21 international but, by the virtue of a long-term contract, clung onto his association with us like a child does to their mother on their first day of school. It wasn't until 2001 when were finally able to cut Hamilton loose.