Chris Shuker

Manchester City

A right-sided midfielder from Huyton, Liverpool, Shuker left the Everton academy at age 16 to begin his career in the Premier League with Manchester City, signing professional forms at the age of 17. He was loaned out to Third Division club Macclesfield Town in March 2001, where he made his competitive debut under Gil Prescott on 24 March, in a 2–1 win over Blackpool at Moss Rose, after replacing Richard Tracey on 79 minutes. Prescott handed Shuker first start seven days later, in a 1–0 defeat at Carlisle United. He scored his first senior goal in his third appearance for the club, his header was the only goal of a 1–0 home win, and "capped off a fine all-round performance" against Kidderminster Harriers. He returned to Maine Road at the end of the 2000–01 season having made eight appearances for Macclesfield; during his absence Manchester City had lost their top-flight status. He marked his "Blues" debut with a goal five minutes after coming onto the pitch, as Kevin Keegan put him on for Eyal Berkovic 59 minutes into a 4–2 win over Notts County in the League Cup on 11 September 2001. He played cameo roles in 3–0 wins over Walsall and Barnsley, but played a total of just three games in 2001–02, as City won promotion out of the First Division. He signed a new one-year deal in January, along with fellow youth team graduate Joey Barton. After scoring past Rochdale and Tranmere Rovers in pre-season friendlies, he was given his Premier League debut on the…

In February 2012, Barnsley and Port Vale teammate Marc Richards described 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) Shuker as "small, nippy, tricky and he's got a quality right foot."

Barnsley

Football League One play-offs: 2006 Port Vale

Football League Two third-place promotion: 2012–13 Individual

Barnsley Player of the Year: 2004–05 PFA Team of the Year: 2006–07 League One