Name: Danny Simpson
Squad number: 5
Nationality: English
Born: 4th January, 1987, Salford
Height: 176cm (5ft 9.5ins)
Weight: 79.1kg
Previous clubs: Manchester United, Royal Antwerp (loan), Sunderland (loan), Ipswich Town (loan), Blackburn Rovers (loan)
Signed: August 2009 from Manchester United (loan which became permanent in January 2010)
Newcastle United debut: 19th August, 2009 v Sheffield Wednesday (home), Championship
Position: Defender
Danny Simpson joined Newcastle United on 14th August, 2009, from Manchester United, initially on a six-month loan.
His debut came five days later in a 1-0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday, and Simpson bagged his first goal in the black and white stripes on 7th November, 2009, against Peterborough.
The full-back's temporary spell was such a success that he signed a three-and-a-half-year deal on 20th January, 2010 to become a full-time addition to the Magpies' playing staff.
Since then, Simpson has been a near-permanent fixture on the right flank of Newcastle's side, playing a key role in guiding the team to the Championship title, and then helping United retain their top flight status in 2010/11.
The former Manchester United youngster has grown in stature with each season on Tyneside, and helped Newcastle to a record-equalling 11-game top flight unbeaten start to the 2011/12 campaign.
Early Days
Simpson was born in Salford, Greater Manchester, and came through the Manchester United youth ranks before breaking into the reserve squad at Old Trafford in 2005.
Loan spells at Royal Antwerp - twice - and Sunderland followed before returning to Manchester United ahead of the start of the 2007/08 season. He made his Red Devils debut on 26th September, 2007, as they lost 2-0 against Coventry City in the Carling Cup, and soon after made his Premier League bow on 6th October 2007 against Wigan.
In March 2008, Simpson went out on loan again - this time to Ipswich Town, and spent the entire 2008/09 season on a season-long loan at Blackburn Rovers, making 20 appearances for the Premier League side.
