Newcastle United's Inaugural Summer Signings In The Mike Ashley Era - Ranked Worst To Best

• Arrived: 14 August 2009 from Manchester United

• Fee Paid: Six-month Loan

• Left: 27 June 2013 for QPR

• Fee Received: Free Transfer

• Apps: 137

• Goals: 2

Although not the most gifted full-back in the world, a fact he is likely to acknowledge himself, Simpson was nothing less than a dependable and committed servant during a four-year stay at Newcastle, proving to be the antithesis of the player he was brought in to replace.

Originally signed on a six-month loan from Manchester United to fill the void left by Habib Beye, who reneged on an initial promise to stay and help the club return to the Premier League, Simpson signed a permanent deal in January, becoming a vital component in Chris Hughton's side and earning the second Championship winners medal of his career, the other obtained during a previous loan spell at Sunderland.

Nailing down the right-back slot, he was a regular under Hughton and Alan Pardew, making 35 Premier League appearances in 2011/12 as Newcastle finished fifth and returned to Europe, playing six times in the Europa League the following season.

Unfortunately for Simpson, however, his days appeared numbered as the club brazenly courted an upgrade, one Mathieu Debuchy, and he was reduced to a watching brief from January 2013 onwards after the France international finally moved to St James' Park from Lille following a protracted six-month chase, whilst a reluctance to put pen-to-paper on a new contract also counted in his favour.

He subsequently left for QPR on a free transfer, spending a solitary season at Loftus Road and helping the R's to promotion before joining ex-Magpies coach Nigel Pearson at Leicester last summer.