It’s a strange turnaround as the Premier League was his playground for a decent spell, Gavin netting 31 Premier appearances for Middlesbrough (1999-2002). He played with the current manager of England, played under two others (Steve McClaren and Terry Venables) and in that four-season spell in the English top flight acquitted himself well. “I remember playing against Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke and their movement was just different to anything I had been used to. “You had to concentrate every second of the game, they were top-class players. “Once that Manchester United side took the lead against you it was game over. It was a pleasure to play against that group of people,” says Gavin, now 40.