Jeffers looks for lift Down Under

If you asked football fans up and down the country as to where Francis Jeffers is these days, the majority would probably have no idea.

Well, the former Everton striker, who joined Arsenal in a £10million transfer back in 2001, has recently teamed up with A-League outfit Newcastle United Jets.

After storming onto the Premier League scene with the Toffees in 1998, Jeffers’ ill-fated switch to the Gunners failed to take off as he failed to impress.

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Moves to Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday followed, but the forward never looked as though he would reach the heights he managed at Goodison Park.

But he will be hoping to make a name for himself in Australia and could seek advice from ex-patriots Down Under.

We take a look at several former Premier League and Football League stars who are now plying their trade in the southern hemisphere.

Michael Bridges – The Jets’ captain will certainly be keen to strike a telling partnership with the Liverpudlian. Bridges started his career at Sunderland before making a lucrative move to Leeds United.

It was at Elland Road that Bridges raised a few eyebrows with several exceptional performances, but his career spiralled downhill after he suffered a serious injury in a European tie against Besiktas.

Spells at Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers, Bristol City and Carlisle United followed. A successful stint with the Cumbrians earned him a move to Hull City, but his KC Stadium experience proved to be unsuccessful and a loan period at Sydney FC handed him a taste of life in Australia.

Lloyd Owusu – Maybe not a household name amongst top-flight supporters, but the powerful former Brentford, Sheffield Wednesday and Reading forward is enjoying life with Adelaide United.

His start to life in Adelaide could hardly have been worse as he contracted swine flu and then pneumonia last summer, but he is now back to full fitness.

Chris Doig – The former Nottingham Forest and Northampton Town central defender is now contracted to Central Coast Mariners.

After making his league debut for hometown side Queen of the South, Doig travelled south of the border for his stint in England. He decided a change was in order last summer, leaving the Cobblers for life in Gosford, New South Wales.

Robbie Fowler – Perhaps the most famous of the Britons in Australia. The Liverpool legend can also add Leeds United, Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers to his list of past employers and joined up with North Queensland Fury in February 2009.

However, things soon turned sour and he jumped ship for Perth Glory at the end of April this year.