Leeds desperate search for new players reaches South Africa, as midfielder Matthew Pattison has linked-up on trial at Elland Road.

The South African is no stranger to these shores and followers of both Newcastle United and Norwich City may be able to remember him better than us.

Pattison began his career at St James Park and after 10 appearances for the Geordies, moved to Norwich - initially on loan where his Canary career stats ended with 51 appearances and 3 goals.

In August 2009, he returned to his native South African to Mamelodi Sundowns where he has since  made 43 appearances and scored three times. Sundown's recently appointed coach, Johan Neeskens apparently does not rate him so he has been sent out on trial.

Lazy journalists are linking him following in Lucas Radebe's footsteps, however he is not the only South African to move to Leeds, there was of course Gerry Francis, Albert Johanssen and we also have Davide Somma in our current squad. One time striker Philomen Masinga actually joined us from Mamelodi Sundowns around about the same time as Radebe did in 1993.

Like many of my paid back page counterparts, I did much of my research on his Wikipedia account and other points of note are he once offended Celtic supporters after a friendly by proclaiming a "hatred" of what he described as "toothless beggars". During his time at Norwich it was also alledged he was pulled for drink-driving in just his underwear, however it later emerged in court he was fully clothed.

This news will hardly register on the radar and be typical of the kind of likely signing we have been used to during Bates' reign.

Photo: Action Images

macro added 20:41 - Jan 17 and he's rubbish
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