Jim Goodwin has had a rather colourful career. The Irish international was one of 2005's main summer arrivals, but his first season in Scunthorpe colours was disrupted by injury.

However, a fully-fit Goodwin brought another dimension to the team and the tough-tackler adds bite to the midfield, he can also perform reliably in defence when called upon. He originally signed on a free transfer from Stockport County in June 2005, and the rock-solid midfielder came with quite a reputation.

Known as a tough-tackling yellow card-grabbing midfielder before signing, the player's first pre-season at Glanford Park was disrupted by injury but he finally made his first United appearance at Winterton Rangers on Tuesday July 26th. Unfortunately, all did not go according to plan. Despite the Iron romping home to a comfortable 4-0 win Goodwin was stretchered off injured after making a challenge.

He wasn't to make his Scunthorpe debut for another four months, until the end of November - it was a shock debut too. An injury crisis meant that it was all hands to the deck. Neil MacKenzie was brought in on loan from Macclesfield two days before the game, and young YT Ashley Allanson was handed a place on the bench. The shock on the team sheet though was the inclusion of Goodwin, who had only just returned to full training.

Iron supporters arriving at the ground were to be provided with a surprising introduction to the player, and it was quite a debut by anybody's reckoning. Eight minutes into the match Andy Keogh flicked on an Ian Baraclough corner, which reached the head of Goodwin on the edge of the six-yard box who headed the Iron into an early lead. The classy Brentford outfit hit back and began to impose themselves on the game, turning the game around to lead 3-1, but in a depleted and dejected Scunthorpe side Goodwin stuck out like a sore thumb. Making crunching tackles and, in the process, becoming an Iron fans favourite.

Goodwin said about his debut: "I was delighted just to be able to pull on the Scunthorpe United jersey at last. I'm not match fit yet, I'm probably 75 per cent there. I've done all the cardio stuff with (physio) Nigel Adkins but it's just games now that I need. Brian Laws asked me if I was okay and I said I could go for 90 minutes. I bet he wishes he took me off now!"

His match fitness was admittedly lacking, after spending such a long time out, and he picked up two bookings in quick succession to be sent off late on, but the standing ovation he received as he left the pitch was one of the quirky highlights of that season at Glanford Park. He also scooped the two man of the match accolades, making it one of the most spectacular introductions to life in an Iron shirt for years.

He went on to make 15 more appearances as the season progressed. Scoring once more, a header in the home defeat to Doncaster Rovers. It was a frustrating campaign for the player, but things got much better the following year.

He may have spent the opening three months of the 2006/07 promotion-winning season on the sidelines after a clash of heads at Bristol City on the opening day of the season that required an operation, but he quickly got into the side and made his mark as the campaign progressed,

When injuries began to harm the Iron's midfield department, Goodwin was called into action and played an invaluable role in helping his team rise up the table. He developed a great understanding with Richard Hinds in the centre of the park, starting every game of the club record seven-game winning run from the end of January to the start of March, which effectively won his side promotion.

The Irishman began his career at Celtic but only made one appearance for Martin O'Neill's side. He has been capped by the Republic of Ireland too, coming on as a substitute for striker Robbie Keane in the 3-0 win over Finland in Helsinki, back in August 2002.

He also earned a number of caps for the U-21 side, scoring on his debut as a substitute in Estonia. He played alongside fellow current Irons Cliff Byrne and Joe Murphy for a number of different Irish youth sides.

Goodwin snubbed boss O'Neill's offer of a new one-year contract at Parkhead to take the guarantee of first-team football under Carlton Palmer at Edgeley Park. The Hatters even beat off competition from then-newly-promoted Premiership outfit Birmingham City, plus Bradford City and Plymouth Argyle, for Goodwin's signature - with the lure of first team football being the major temptation.

The player was club captain at Edgley Park, and he made 118 appearances for the Hatters, scoring nine goals, three of which came against Barnsley. He was highly regarded by Stockport fans who saw the player as an inspirational figure at the club, demanding the best from his team mates, and also captaining the Eire Under-21's in the past.

"I spoke to Cliff about the move, he told me it is a great club and could not speak highly enough about the place," Goodwin said about signing for the Iron. "Looking round it is a great club, it wasn't a difficult decision to make as I had my heart set on coming here. I had other opportunities, but I was advised that to work with Brian Laws was the right move. I knew it was the right move for me."

United beat off interest from Scottish Premier League outfit Hearts and League One rivals Bradford City to bring Goodwin to the club. He is the kind of player needed for the challenges ahead, and should make quite an impact as this season goes on.