Steve's sparkling form continued into the 1995-96 season, prompting
England manager Terry Venables to hand him his international debut in a
0-0 draw against Norway in October '95. He netted seven times in the
League, whilst in the UEFA Cup it was the balding midfielder who scored
the all-important goal which won the game for the Reds against French
side Auxerre. His excellent form for both club and country earned him a
place in Venables' squad for that unforgettable Euro '96 tournament but
'Bulldog', as he was affectionately known at the City Ground, had to be
content with substitute appearances in the games against Switzerland,
Scotland and Spain. The Gateshead-born midfielder's career appeared to
be on the up-and-up, but just five games into the following season the
injury jinx struck yet again. After only a few minutes of the game with
local rivals Leicester City, Steve suffered a serious knee injury which
ruled him out for the entire campaign.
He returned for the start of the
1997-98 season, as Forest lifted the First Division title to book an
immediate return to the Premiership, but struggled to recapture the form
which had made him such a favourite with the City Ground faithful. With
the loss, for one reason or another, of Kevin Campbell, Colin Cooper
and the moody Dutchman, Pierre Van Hooijdonk, it was always going to be a
nigh on impossible task for the Reds to survive in the top flight.
Steve, as ever, gave his all for the cause but when John Gregory offered
him the chance to join Aston Villa the opportunity was to good to turn
down. Forest, for their part, realised £5.5m on a player who had
been a product of the clubs youth policy. (David Scranage)
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