West Brom and Leicester: Played for both XI, including Gareth McAuley

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We pick a combined West Bromwich Albion and Leicester XI using players who have played for both clubs.

Russell Hoult starts in goal. The keeper started his career with Leicester City, where spent the majority of his time out on loan before making a permanent switch to Derby County. In 2001, Hoult joined West Bromwich Albion and became an integral part of Gary Megson’s side. He kept a club record 24 league clean sheets as the Baggies won promotion in the 2001/2 season.

Riccardo Scimeca and Joe Mattock are the fullbacks. Mickey Adams brought Scimeca to Leicester in 2003 and the right-back went on to play 30 times for the Foxes. The following season, Scimeca signed for West Brom and played a part in Albion’s ‘Great Escape’ season before moving on to Cardiff City.

Leicester supporters might still hold a grudge against Mattock after the full back forced a move to West Brom in 2009. Mattock didn’t enjoy the best of spells with the Baggies and was released in 2012.

Gareth McAuley and Phil Gilchrist form a rock-solid centre-back pairing. At 36 years old, McAuley is still a regular in the West Brom side. The Northern Ireland international spent two years at Leicester and captained the side for the 2007/8 campaign.

Phil Gilchrist joined West Brom from the Foxes in 2001 and was part of the same resilient Albion defence as Russell Hoult. Gilchrist would go on to play 90 times for the Baggies.

There is no shortage of pace on the wings with Laurie Cunningham and Lloyd Dyer out wide. Cunningham is remembered as one of Albion’s all-time greats for his dazzling displays in Ron Atkinson’s late 1970’s side. After time with Real Madrid and Marseille, Cunningham had a short spell at Leicester which was blighted by injuries.

Lloyd Dyer will hold a soft spot in the hearts of those Albion supporters who remember his long mazy run to set up Jason Koumas’ for the goal which all but sealed promotion in the 2003/4 season. Dyer signed for Nigel Pearson’s Leicester in 2008 and went on to play over 200 times for the Foxes.

Andy Johnson and the slightly more obscure name of Lee Marshall feature in the centre of midfield. Johnson is the third member of this XI to be an important part of West Brom’s 2001/2 campaign playing alongside Derek McInnes. ‘AJ’ left the Baggies in 2006 to sign with Leicester but failed to make an impact at the club, and left a year later.

Lee Marshall played 45 times for Leicester before Gary Megson recruited him to be part of his newly-promoted West Brom side for their 2002/3 Premier League season. Unfortunately, injuries shortened his career and the midfielder was forced to retire at the age of 26. Marshall does hold the honour of scoring the Baggies first Premier League goal albeit a consolation in their 3-1 defeat to Leeds United.

There are plenty of forwards to pick from for this XI which means the likes of Geoff Horsfield, Roman Bednar, Kevin Campbell and Diomansy Kamara miss out. Instead, Kevin Phillips and Alistair Brown lead the line.

Phillips helped both Leicester and West Brom to the Championship title. ‘Super Kev’ netted 24 goals as Tony Mowbray’s West Brom team finished top of the division. He joined the Foxes in 2014 and scored two goals as Pearson’s side comfortably secured promotion.

Brown was Leicester’s top scorer for two seasons running as he fired Frank O’Farrell’s team to promotion from the Second Division. The forward then went on to have prolific spell with the Baggies between 1971 and 1983, scoring 72 times in his time at the Hawthorns.