With the Tigers having suffered a difficult start to the Championship season, manager Phil Parkinson beat the Transfer Window deadline by a couple of hours to increase his attacking options with a striker who has enjoyed the rare achievement of three previous title successes at this level.

Michael ended his first senior season (1995-96) with Sunderland clinching the First Division crown. Although the Black Cats were to come straight back down, he emerged as one of the Premiership's most promising young strikers. He played in England Under-18 teams alongside such as Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Michael Owen.

He helped fire Sunderland back up two years with a record 105 points but, before taking their place back at the top table, Michael had joined Leeds United for £4.5million in July 1999.

In his first season in West Yorkshire, the North Shields-born marksman scored 19 Premiership goals as Leeds finished third in the Premiership to qualify for the Champions' League, and also reached the semi finals of the UEFA Cup.

Having won three caps at England Under-21 level, Michael's career came to a shuddering halt on 18 October 2000 when he was carried off with an Achilles injury in a Champions League tie against Besiktas in Turkey.

He then suffered a career-threatening cruciate ligament problem, and it was to be a month short of two years later before he returned to action - in the Whites' UEFA Cup First Round first leg tie against Metalurg Zaporizhzhya at Elland Road.

A team mate of Nick Barmby at Leeds, Michael made a further 20 appearances before joining Newcastle United on loan in February 2004.

With his contract ended in June 2004, he joined Bolton Wanderers on free transfer but - before making his debut for the Reebok outfit - he moved back to Sunderland in September 2004 and was once again involved in a Black Cats' Championship triumph.

Michael was not to return to the Premiership though as he moved to League One Bristol City before the 2005-06 season commenced.

After a brief spell in the south-west, he returned north to join Carlisle United where his 15 goals in 25 appearances shot the Cumbrians towards the League Two title.

Four weeks after his 28th birthday, Michael joined the Tigers for £350,000 with a three-year contract.