Season with NUFC: 2001/02 Appearances: 35, Goals: 0 Few Toon fans were aware of Distin's existence when news filtered through that Sir Bobby Robson was chasing the French defender, who was a team-mate of Laurent Robert's at Paris Saint German. Distin would indeed follow Robert across the channel to Tyneside, albeit on a season-long loan deal, and quickly demonstrated why Sir Bobby pursued him for a number of weeks before he eventually agreed to join Newcastle ahead of Premier League newcomers Bolton in September 2001. Despite operating from an unfamiliar left-back bert - Distin favoured a central role - he was an impressive capture and real fans favourite by the end of his stint, offering an solid and often unheralded defensive platform that afforded Robert, who was less than prolific at tracking back when we lost possession, the freedom to influence the game higher up the field. Although the permanent signing of Distin looked to be a formality at the end of a promising campaign in black and white he opted to join recently-promoted Manchester City in the summer of 2002 after being reassured the he would play in his preferred position of central defence.
