Jonny Howson’s career has gone full circle as he returned to Leeds United as a player-coach with the club’s under-21s side, which has seen him help nurture the likes of Harry Gray.
Leeds United’s under-21s side are currently preparing for an important game against Athletic Bilbao’s under-21s in the Premier League International Cup, and veteran man Jonny Howson is expected to line up as one of the senior players.
Howson is a perfect role model for Leeds’ rising stars, such as Harry Gray, having made the leap from the Leeds academy to the first-team after making his debut in a League Cup tie against Barnet in 2006.
The dynamic midfielder went on to play 185 games for the Leeds first-team, scoring 23 goals, before he left to join Norwich, departing shortly after Daniel Farke was appointed as head coach.
Farke is currently preparing his Leeds side for a crucial game against Burnley, as Leeds look to avoid relegation from the Premier League. They can take inspiration from a game in which Howson starred, when they completed a famous comeback to take all three points.
Jonny Howson inspired Leeds United comeback against Burnley in 2010
Leeds returned to the Championship with a bang under Simon Grayson in the 2010/11 season, and Howson played a key role in their success, before the Whites ultimately missed out on the play-offs.
Grayson’s Leeds were known for their entertaining brand of football, as evidenced by their 81 goals scored that season, the second most in the division, and their visit to Turf Moor in December 2010 showcased Leeds at their best and their worst.
The first half was an unmitigated disaster, as Leeds appeared to be drifting towards defeat. Brian Easton scored from a corner before Jay Rodriguez latched onto a hoofed clearance from former Leeds man Clarke Carlisle to give the home side a comfortable 2-0 lead.
However, when Luciano Becchio nodded down to Max Gradel to fire home unmarked, Leeds had a foothold in the game. Becchio then got on the scoresheet himself when he headed home a cross from Paul Connolly to bring Leeds level.
Howson’s most famous goal for Leeds came against Carlisle as he scored from the edge of the box to send Leeds to the 2008 League One play-off final, and he repeated the trick at Turf Moor to send the travelling Leeds fans into ecstasy.
The win moved Leeds up to fourth in the table, giving the fans hope that the Whites could bounce straight through the Championship into the top flight.
Jonny Howson – Career Stats
Now coming to the twilight of his time as a player, Howson has enjoyed a long and successful career in the English football pyramid.
Howson became Leeds’ youngest captain since Billy Bremner when he led out the side against Millwall in the 2007/08 season, winning the club’s Young Player of the Year award.
| Years | Club | Played | Goals |
| 2006-12 | Leeds United | 185 | 23 |
| 2012-17 | Norwich City | 176 | 22 |
| 2017-25 | Middlesbrough | 320 | 9 |
| 2025-Present | Leeds United | 0 | 0 |
He left to join Norwich in January 2012 and went on to play 176 games for the Canaries in both the Championship and Premier League, scoring a total of 22 goals.
He left to join Middlesbrough in 2017, playing 320 times in an eight-year spell, scoring nine goals, before his eventual return to Elland Road to nurture the next generation of talent at Thorp Arch.
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