Leicester City beat off competition from a number of Championship clubs to complete the signing of Steve Howard from Derby County for an undisclosed fee on December 31, 2007.

The 31-year-old striker has put pen-to-paper on a three-and-a-half year deal and followed fellow hitman Barry Hayles, who signed earlier on the same day, through the doors at the Walkers Stadium.

The marksman made his Foxes' debut against QPR on New Year's Day after it was revealed that he had initially joined on an emergency loan deal.

Having signed for the Rams in July 2006 after five years with Luton Town, during which time he netted over 100 goals, Howard became the first player to score in four consecutive games for the club since Fabrizio Ravanelli in 2001.

The hitman finished 2006/07 as Derby's leading scorer with 19 goals, 18 of which came in the Championship, and was the runaway winner of the Jack Stamps Trophy after being voted as the supporters' player of the year.

He realised a lifelong ambition by playing at Wembley for the first time in last season's Championship Play-Off Final victory over West Brom after scoring twice in the semi-final first leg against Southampton at St Mary's.

Howard, a fans' favourite at Pride Park, accumulated 21 appearances for the Rams in the Premier League and scored his only goal of the campaign in the 4-1 defeat at champions Manchester United on December 8.

The forward also found the back of the net for Scotland B in November when he headed home a late leveller against Republic of Ireland B on his debut.

Howard, who stands at 6ft 3ins tall, began his career at Northern League Division One outfit Tow Law Town in 1994 before moving to Hartlepool United a year later.

Whilst at Victoria Park, he scored 32 goals and was snapped up by Northampton Town for a club record £120,000 in February 1999.

After two years with the Cobblers, the Hatters made their move for the talented striker in March, 2001 and he went on to average almost a goal every two games whilst plying his trade at Kenilworth Road.

In his first full season, Howard bagged 24 goals as Luton finished runners-up in League Two behind Plymouth Argyle, earning him the Golden Boot for that division.

The following season he again finished as top-scorer with 23 before helping himself to 16 in 2003/04.

A year later and Howard again played an instrumental part as his 18 league goals helped the Hatters run away with the League One title with 98 points from 46 matches.

Howard signed a new deal in 2005 despite a wealth of interest from elsewhere within the Championship, and in his first season at that level, scored 15 goals in 45 appearances.

In total the striker netted more than 100 goals and enjoyed two promotions for Luton during his five years at the club before moving to Pride Park.

Howard scored his first goal in a Leicester shirt in the 2-0 victory over Coventry City at the Walkers Stadium on Saturday, January 12.