SUPER SUB

As part of an occasional feature, Andy Greeves takes a look back at a match in which a substitute has made a real impact for us. Today, he remembers Aaron Lennon’s contribution to a pulsating 4-4 draw with Arsenal in October 2008.

Aaron Lennon is our fourth-highest Premier League appearance maker after Darren Anderton, Jermain Defoe and Ledley King having lined up 266 times for us in the division between 2005 and 2015.

Born in Leeds on 16 April, 1987, the winger is a product of the Leeds United Academy, who he started training with from the age of 14. Ironically, given his lengthy future career with us, Lennon made his professional debut for the South Yorkshire club in a 2-1 defeat against us at White Hart Lane on 23 August, 2003.

Coming on as a 78th–minute substitute for Mark Viduka, Lennon became the youngest player to appear in the Premier League at the time at the age of 16 years and 129 days. His record has since been surpassed by Harvey Elliott, Matthew Briggs and Izzy Brown.

Aaron joined us in the summer of 2005, having made 43 senior appearances and scored one goal for Leeds. Of the 364 matches he went on to play for us in all competitions, 68 appearances came as a substitute. One such outing from the bench came in a memorable derby clash at the Emirates Stadium on 29 October, 2008.