Howson: Jonathan Mark (Jonny)

2006-2012 (Leeds Player Details)(Player Details)

Midfield

Born: Morley: 21-05-1988

Debut: Barnet (h) (League Cup) (Substitute): 19-09-2006

5’11” 12st 1lb (2007)

Howson was born in the city of Leeds and attended Morley Victoria Primary School and Bruntcliffe High School before starting his professional career. He is primarily a central midfielder but is also able to play on the right wing and also as striker. Joining the club on 1st July 2005, his then manager, Kevin Blackwell noted that Howson's speciality is passing and finishing. He became a regular in the reserve team in 2005-2006, scoring many goals for the side. On 22nd August 2006, he was given a squad number (thirty-three) and a place on the bench for the first team against Chester City in the Carling Cup. On 18th September 2006 Howson signed a new three year deal with the club, pledging his future to the team he has supported since he was a boy. He made his debut for the Leeds first team against Barnet on the 19th September 2006, coming on as a seventy-sixth minute substitute and not playing in his true position, but pleasing many fans when he replaced Steve Stone. New Manager, Dennis Wise handed Howson his league debut against Hull City on the 23rd December 2006 in a 0-0 draw. He got booked and not only came closest to Leeds scoring, but was also awarded the "Man of the Match" award. In addition, he won the plaudits of Wise and vice-captain, Shaun Derry. Howson scored his first professional goal on 3rd February 2007 against Norwich City. He was named United’s ‘Young Player of the Year’ in 2007-08 and wrote himself into Leeds folklore when he scored both goals at Carlisle in the League One Play-off Semi-Final second leg, the winner coming in injury time, which saw Leeds overturn a 2-1 home defeat to secure a place in the Wembley Play-off Final, which they subsequently lost 1-0 to Doncaster Rovers. On 20th June 2008 he was rewarded for his form with new three year contract. He had already captained United on a couple of occasions. He had a form slump and found that Fabian Delph took over his place but in February 2009 he scored twice against Cheltenham Town and regained his place in central midfield alongside Neil Kilkenny, with Fabian Delph moving to the left flank. He was appointed vice-Captain in August 2009 and, due to the absence of Captain Richard Naylor, led the team to a flying start and formed a strong central midfield with Michael Doyle. He played a large part in United's eventual promotion to the CCCL, although his performances were not always consistent. He was called up for the England Under-Twenty-One team against Italy in Empoli on 8th February 2011, coming on as a sixtieth minute substitute. He played in all forty-six Championship fixtures in 2010-11 season, scoring eleven goals in all competitions. Apart from missing the home game with Hull City, on 15th August 2011, due to suspension, he had featured in all of Leeds' games in the 2011-12 season, until he picked up a knee injury in the 2-0 win over Millwall on 3rd December 2011 and had to leave the field in the thirty-sixth minute. It was feared that the injury would mean that he missed the next three or four months. In the final season of a three year contract, Howson had been involved in negotiations with the club for the renewal. However it still came as a surprise and a disappointment to supporters of the club when they discovered that on 24th January 2012 Norwich City completed the signing of Howson, Captain of Leeds United, for an undisclosed fee. The fans saw this as one more player of undoubted talent, Leeds born and bred and nurtured in the club's Academy, cashed in to leave a hole in the club's promotion ambitions. He passed the medical examination and signed a three and a half year deal. After recovering from injury he played his first game for Norwich City on 3rd March 2012 as Norwich were beaten 1-0 at Stoke City. After cementing his first team place he scored his first goal for the Canaries on 7th April 2012, when he scored in a 2-2 draw with Everton at Carrow Road. By the end of the 2011-12 season he had scored once in eleven League starts for Norwich, where he was well-established in midfield alongside Bradley Johnson, another former Leeds talent who left in similar circumstances.