From Leeds United to Stevenage, Tyler Denton could just have easily got on an East Coast train service to complete his summer 2019 move south. As we weren’t party to the negotiations between him and the gaffer, we’ll never know if that was how it went. But we can confirm the attacking left-back saw his future at the Boro’ after an entire career spent with the Elland Road outfit up to that point.

With a zest for getting forward and netting the odd goal where possible, Denton came with the potential to ignite the Boro’ left flank. But that didn’t quite happen. Much like many others in the 2019-20 Stevenage squad, Denton is guilty by association; part of one of the worst sides (on paper) that League Two had seen in a fair while. After the season ended and the dust settled, Denton was among 22 players released by boss Alex Revell.

Tyler Denton: Before Boro’

Denton, who can also play as a midfielder if the need arises, started out as a footballer in 2003; joining the Leeds academy before his age hit double figures. Climbing through the ranks, he turned pro in summer 2014 and was named U21 captain a year later. He’d also turned out for England U17s by this point too. While then-boss Gary Monk handed him a first team debut in August 2016, the appearances didn’t exactly rack up fast.

Loan spells became the path to first team football for Denton. First, he spent some time at Port Vale from summer 2017. Here, however, he fell out of favour after Vale changed their manager and then returned to Leeds for personal reasons.

In what seems to be a gradual move south, the next loan spell was at Peterborough United. Here, he spent the whole 2018-9 campaign. Chances to shine, however, were at a premium due to the form of other players at London Road. Posh chairman Darragh McAnthony wasn’t that impressed either. But that’s by the by as far as we were thinking at the time of Denton’s arrival at the Lamex. Our minds were open and our hopes were high.