| Though a nippy, capable and courageous defender anywhere along the back line, it was as a right back that Mike Duxbury emerged from the ranks at Manchester United. Following a prominent season in 1983 (Mike was an ever present in United's 42 match league campaign), in which United reached both domestic Cup finals, Bobby Robson handed him his England debut against international minnows Luxembourg (see photo above) at the end of the year, aware that Phil Neal's hold on the No.2 shirt was now ready to be loosened after England had shambolically thrown away a chance to qualify for the 1984 European Championships with a home defeat by Denmark. Duxbury came in and dutifully worked the right flank with defensive aplomb and no little attacking instinct too, for a while having a clear hold on the position despite the presence of the more experienced Viv Anderson, while Neal found himself permanently out in the cold. Ten caps came Duxbury's way but then he lost his place in the United team to John Gidman at the start of 1985 and couldn't be guaranteed further international starts as a result, his final international outing coming in a 5-0 World Cup qualifier victory against Finland in October '84. Anderson briefly regained the shirt before the emergence of the athletic and precocious Gary Stevens at Everton made sure Duxbury would not be required again. (Mathhew Rudd) |