Robbie Fowler finally made his £6 million-sterling move from Leeds to Manchester City today and is set to go into the starting line-up for Saturday's Premiership clash with West Brom.
Two weeks after City manager Kevin Keegan first attempted to sign the former Liverpool striker, Fowler joined his new teammates for training.
Keegan, a long-standing admirer of a player he rates the best natural finisher in the English game, has said Fowler will line up alongside French striker Nicolas Anelka, even though he is still not fully fit after hip surgery last year.
"Robbie was always number one on my list and I was sick when the deal fell through," Keegan said after watching his side sweep Fulham aside 4-1 last night.
"Fortunately for us, circumstances at Leeds gave us the opportunity to go back in and we got him at the second attempt".
Fowler walked away from the chance to join Keegan's side two weeks ago, saying the "vibes" were not right, but his reservations were addressed when the City boss went to meet him earlier this week.
"The deal collapsed because I didn't spend enough time with Robbie explaining why I wanted him here," Keegan said. "We tried to rush it through in time for him to play the following Saturday and I didn't talk to him enough or manage the situation properly.
"I phoned [Leeds chairman] Peter Ridsdale and said I would like to talk with Robbie, so I got in my car, drove to Liverpool and did just that".
Fowler revealed that it was the faith Keegan had shown him which had finally made his mind up. "In the end it was Kevin's vision for the club, and for me, that swayed me," Fowler said today.
"I know people will be asking questions about why I changed my mind, and really there are a lot of reasons, but I think the most important is that Kevin Keegan wanted me so much - and he showed it because he wasn't prepared to accept no for an answer".
PA