Alex Evtushok

A Ukrainian international signed by Gordon Strachan in early 1997 after a three-month battle for a work permit. The tall central defender had a nightmare start as City conceded two goals in five minutes at Old Trafford and Strachan substituted the ‘shell-shocked’ player. A better performance against Leicester showed the fans what he was capable of but in his third and final game the roof fell in at Newcastle and City lost 0-4. ‘Sacha’, as he was known, was forced to leave the country in July 1997 when his work permit was not renewed and rejoined Karpaty Lvov and helped them to third place in the Ukrainian League. The following season his form was outstanding and he regained his international squad place. He still lives in the Ukraine. I don’t know if City ever recouped their money!