STEVE HARKNESS

1991 / 92

POSITION : DEFENDER LEFT

BORN: Carlisle 27.8.71.

TRANSFER FEE: 375,000 (from Carlisle United, July 1987).

HONOURS: England Youth.

OTHER CLUBS: Carlisle United, Huddersfield Town (loan), Southend United (loan).

APPEARANCES : 75

GOALS: 4

INFO :

Harkness was first spotted by Liverpool playing against them for Carlisle United in an FA Cup tie in January 1989. He impressed Dalglish enough for Liverpool to bring the 17 year old England Youth international to Anfield the following summer after he had played just 13 League games. However, it w as to be two years before Harkness made his Liverpool debut in a home game against QPR at the beginning of Souness' first season as manager. Harkness made fairly regular appearances during the autumn of 1991 but under Souness he was always in and out of t he side, playing in a variety of positions either in midfield or full-back. In a way, Harkness' versatilty was counting against him as he could not establish a regular position.

Under new manager Roy Evans, Harkness still appeared to be a fringe squad player. Since his first season, Harkness had not made more than a dozen appearances in a season and he had also gone on loan spells to Huddersfield Town and Southend United. However, at the beginning of the 1995/96 season Harkness established himself in the side as left wing-back, a position Liverpool had been having trouble filling. Later in the season he played as one of the three central defenders as Rob Jones was moved onto the left. Harkness looked equally impressive in this position, which he claimed was his favoured role. Late in the 1995/96 season Harkness had his leg broken in a bad tackle at Coventry City and he was not expected back before Christmas 1996.

PICTURE :

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