Leeds finalising return of Jonny Howson to club as player-coach
The 37-year-old left the club 13 years ago after making 225 appearances, but now looks set to make his comeback as a player-coach.
The veteran was out of contract at Middlesbrough this summer after eight years on Teesside and was not offered new terms. The Leeds-born midfielder will now take on a player-coach role with the club's under-21s at Thorp Arch.
Howson's brother has alluded to his return, posting a picture of a club training shirt bearing his initials on social media this week. United sources suggest the move is not complete yet, but there is confidence the former captain will head back to where his career started.
Howson would be permitted to play for the under-21s as an over-age player, but it remains to be seen if the club would look to declare him as a homegrown name in their senior list submitted to the Premier League.
After five-and-a-half seasons as a senior professional with Leeds, across League One and the Championship, Howson moved to Norwich City in the Premier League in 2011-12. He then moved on to Middlesbrough in the second tier ahead of the 2017-18 season.
Scott Gardner is United's current under-21 head coach. Howson will join his backroom staff and prove to be a valuable leader on the field with that younger group when he is asked to play.
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