DISCARDS WHO WENT FROM REJECTS TO RICHES

ERIC CANTONA: Fell out with manager Howard Wilkinson after making seven starts in Leeds’ title-winning side of 1992. A shock £1.2million move to Manchester United saw Cantona (top, left) become the catalyst for two decades of unrivalled glory at Old Trafford.

CLAUDE MAKELELE: Real Madrid president Florentino Perez heaped scorn on his ability, happily selling him to Chelsea in 2003 for £16.8million and proclaiming: “We will not miss him.” At Stamford Bridge, Makelele (top, right) became the rock of Jose Mourinho’s back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006.

KEVIN PHILLIPS: Graham Taylor’s biggest mistake was not putting Carlton Palmer in England’s midfield. In 1996, he decided the 5ft 6in striker (above) Watford signed for £10,000 from non-league Baldock was simply too small. KP moved to Sunderland for just £325,000 and finished his career with 282 goals in 660 games plus eight England caps.

ROY KEANE: Thought he had landed a ticket to English football as a 15-year-old when Brighton offered him a trial – only for the Seagulls to cancel it at the last minute because they thought he was too small. Keane (above) would go on to play for Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest and Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

HARRY KANE: Arsenal fans, look away now. Kane spent a year in the Gunners academy before being released due to his lack of height and pace. Arsene Wenger admitted he would have preferred to keep him, saying: “I didn’t know – I read it in the papers.”