In October, 2021, former England international Kieron Dyer revealed that he had been diagnosed with a liver condition known as primary sclerosing cholangitis and required a liver transplant. While not wishing to kick the man while he’s down, it would be fair to say that, as far as his playing career was concerned, Dyer is probably best remembered for a bizarre, off-the-ball incident involving Newcastle United team-mate Lee Bowyer at St. James’ Park in April, 2005.
Already trailing 3-0, and down to ten men, against Aston Villa, Newcastle’s dreadful afternoon took a turn for the worse when Dyer apparently told Bowyer, ‘The reason I don’t pass to you is because you’re sh*t, basically’. Bowyer responded by setting about his team-mate, who responded in kind, and both players were dismissed, leaving Newcastle with just eight men for the remainder of the match.
Born in Ipswich in December, 1978, Dyer made a name for himself at his hometown club, Ipswich Town, before joining Newcastle United, for a fee of £6 million, in 1999. Under manager Bobby Robson, who took over at St. James’ Park in September that year, he was instrumental in Newcastle United finishing in the top five in the Premier League in three seasons running between 2001/02 and 2003/04. Thereafter, Dyer suffered a variety of long-term injuries, which restricted him to fewer than 50 league appearances, for West Ham United, Ipswich Town, Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough, in the last six years of his career. All told, Dyer made 33 appearances for the England national team. He made the 2002 World Cup squad, but made just three appearances, all as subsitute, and played just seven minutes at Euro 2004.