HUCKERBY COMPLETES CITY SWITCH

The 24-year-old striker fell well down the pecking order at Elland Road after the summer acquisition of Mark Viduka and, since the recent loan signing of Robbie Keane from Internazionale, he has been expected to leave The Whites.

Celtic initially seemed favourites to sign the player, but after agreeing a fee with Leeds on Thursday, the player passed a medical on Friday morning and City moved quickly to seal his signing in time for him to meet Charlton Athletic on Saturday.

The former Coventry City striker is priced at 6/1 to mark his Maine Road bow with the opening goal of the game in a crucial encounter for both sides.

Huckerby moved to Leeds for £5 million 18 months ago and aims to return to the form that inspired David O'Leary to pay so much for the player and put him on the fringe of the England squad.

"I've really had a year-and-a-half off from doing what I can, and I wanted to get back to what I do best," Huckerby said.

"It's been tough at Leeds with the quality strikers they've got there but I want to start playing as soon as possible."

Huckerby made 58 appearances for Leeds, although 44 of those were as a substitute, scoring just six goals.

Citizens boss Joe Royle is confident that he was found a player to fill the void left by George Weah's departure from the club earlier this season.

"We needed that extra striker since George Weah left and at the age at 24 there's a lot in front of him," Royle told a news conference.

To read an Opta analysis on City's new signing, Click here