New Saints’ manager Stuart Gray had originally targeted Ecuadorean, Agustin Delgado, but by the time he eventually signed for the club – after a delay in which he helped seal his country’s place in the 2002 World Cup – Gordon Strachan had succeeded Gray.

A knee operation further delayed his debut so Saints fans would have to wait to see whether the £3.5m had been well spent on a player who had scored a remarkable 29 goals in 43 internationals, including the winner against Brazil in a 2001 World Cup-qualifier.

Unfortunately, his knee problem failed to heal and, unbeknown to the club, he returned to Ecuador to undergo further surgery. His country was desperate to get him fit for the World Cup but, although he eventually played in all three of their games, scoring with a header against Croatia, he never looked fully fit. He flew back to South America for yet another operation, which meant he was absent for the start of pre-season training, much to the annoyance and frustration of the club. When he did reappear, there were more injury problems and, although he did make a flurry of appearances in the middle of the campaign – getting on the score sheet in a League Cup-tie at Anfield and a memorable home win v Arsenal – it wasn’t long before his old knee problem resurfaced.

In February 2003 he went back to Ecuador, vowing never to play for Saints again, blaming Strachan for forcing him out but then bizarrely returned a week later. Next, it was a back injury that sidelined him and after making only one start in the first five months of 2003-04, Strachan finally lost patience and sanctioned a loan move back to his home country.

An absolute disaster as far as value for money was concerned, Delgado’s signing, with hindsight, was an ill-advised gamble.

He attempted to rekindle his career in Ecuador and Mexico and had some success, but he also got himself into disciplinary hot water following a brawl in an Ecuadorian domestic match and earned himself a six-month suspension. None of which prevented him from being elected to Ecuador’s National Assembly in 2013, as the Pais Alliance member for Imbabura Province.