Signed: January 2006 from Southampton FC

Debut: 21 January 2006

Honours: Scottish Championship (3 times with Rangers), Scottish League Cup (twice with Rangers), Scottish Cup (4 times with Rangers, once with Hearts); U21, B and Full International

The return of Neil McCann excited Hearts supporters because he has always been a match-winner and when the dazzling winger previously wore a maroon jersey, Hearts always had a chance of winning due to his pace, dribbling and crossing skills.

Neil is a very experienced campaigner who joined Dundee FC on an "S" Form and was called up in May 1992 after a spell with Morton Boys Club. Neil made his Premier debut in March 1993 and he was a star attraction at Dens Park where he earned nine U21 caps and helped Dundee to reach the Challenge Cup Final in November 1994 and the League Cup Final in November 1995.

During the summer of 1996, Neil looked set for a move to the Austrian club, Sturm Graz. However, Hearts manager Jim Jefferies was attracted to his creative ability and moved quickly to sign him in August 1996 for a fee of £250,000. This was an astute piece of business because Neil certainly made a difference, supplying the ammunition that took Hearts to the League Cup Final in November 1996. Sadly, Hearts lost 4-3 to Rangers but Neil McCann was "Man of the Match" in a brilliant contest.

During season 1997-98 he was so often the match-winner and he played a vital role in the team's long challenge for the League title. And in May 1998, Neil was one of the heroes who brought the Scottish Cup back to Edinburgh when Hearts beat Rangers 2-1 in the final. In that memorable game he was closely marked, but managed to relieve pressure with his tireless running.

His quality was further recognized by two "B" International caps in the spring of 1998 against Wales and Norway. The dashing winger then made his Full International debut in September 1998 against Lithuania. Eventually, in December that year, Rangers came in for his transfer and after scoring 27 goals in 104 games, he moved to Ibrox for a fee of £2 million. He subsequently became a regular in the national team and has made 26 appearances for Scotland.

Neil was hugely successful with Rangers and over five years he helped the Glasgow giants to win three League Championships; four Scottish Cups; and two League Cups. In August 2003, he moved to Southampton for £1.75 million, but failed to really settle as a succession of both injuries and managers disrupted his stay.

Neil made a welcome return to Hearts in January 2006 but sadly suffered a medial ligament injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He returned to the side as a regular at the start of the 2006/07 season, but a series of niggling injuries hampered his contribution in the second half of the campaign. Having returned to full fitness in the summer of 2007, it was a harsh blow indeed when he was stretchered off with a double leg break in a match at Celtic Park in August.