Former Leeds United captain Jonny Howson has made a return to the club after 13 years with Norwich City and Middlesbrough.
Prior to that, the 37-year-old spent six years in Leeds United’s first-team. The midfielder joined the club aged nine in 1997, progressing through the academy and becoming captain.
He is set to become a player-coach of the U-21 team after leaving Boro, and Leeds fans are delighted at the idea of Howson’s return to a club he appeared 225 times for.
Graham Smyth thinks Howson’s impact on Harry Gray is crucial, with his ability to impart years of wisdom and experience on a young team absolutely vital to their development.
Jonny Howson makes first Leeds appearance in over 13 years against Simon Grayson
A Leeds XI including Patrick Bamford, Sam Greenwood, and Joe Gelhardt faced off against Hartlepool United yesterday in a pre-season friendly, with Jonny Howson confirmed to be among the substitutes.
Howson is a former teammate of both Bamford and Greenwood at The Riverside, but another familiar face was also present in Simon Grayson. The pair famously won at Old Trafford together, while also gaining promotion just months later.
Howson scored against Bristol Rovers the day he and Grayson secured Leeds’ place back in the Championship. Fittingly, it was a full circle moment reuniting with his old boss when back at Leeds for the first time.
Another Leeds fan added: “Jonny Howson named in a Leeds lineup at Hartlepool by Simon Grayson? What in the 2010 is going on here?”
Wearing the yellow kit from last season, and very much akin to Carlisle United away in 2008, many are delighted. Another said: “That’s outstanding! Bet he loved it too 👍.”
Other Leeds fan reactions read: “Leeds United are a Premier League club with Sam Byram and Jonny Howson in the ranks. Fact. #LUFC”
A further response said: “How fitting is it that his first game back is in a yellow and blue kit after that Carlisle game. What a boy 😍 #lufc”
Jonny Howson’s Premier League dream with Leeds
Despite it ending in heartbreak at Wembley in the end, Howson striking a 90th-minute goal to book his side a spot in the League One play-off final at the expense of heartbroken Carlisle was arguably his best moment in a Leeds shirt.
He did so in a yellow kit similar to last season’s, which is why the nostalgia has been hitting fans even harder. Speaking to the Daily Mail about that goal and on playing for Leeds back in May 2008, Howson said: “Thursday night is just sinking in now.
“I kept playing it over and over again on Sky to make sure it happened, but I’m beginning to concentrate on Sunday now.”
He added: “It’s been very frustrating for me and for Leeds these last few years, but it’s been a dream come true playing for them.
“It will be amazing if I could play with them one day in the Premier League. To support them as a young boy and to have watched them in the Premier League, it would mean everything to me.
“It was so disappointing to see them get relegated, but it’s always been my dream, to be a professional footballer for Leeds. Coming here full time is what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Many fans will be hoping Howson is handed a first-team squad number as a just in case measure, so that the dream can become a reality.
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