Kelvin Etuhu

Kelvin Peter Etuhu (born 30 May 1988 in Kano) is a Nigerian footballer who currently plays for Bury following his release from Barnsley. Etuhu has two older brothers, Dickson Etuhu, also a professional footballer, and Michael Etuhu, who is still at university. Etuhu grew up in Peckham, South London and attended Saint Thomas the Apostle boys school.

Early career

Etuhu plays as a striker or as a winger. After scoring the winning goal in the semis against rivals Manchester United, he went on to play in the FA Youth Cup finals in 2005–06 where Manchester City lost to Liverpool on a 3–2 aggregate. He scored the equaliser in his debut for Rochdale, coming on in the 56th minute against Wycombe Wanderers and scoring in the 80th minute. His spell at Rochdale was unfortunately cut short, due to a knee injury which prompted his return to Manchester City.

He made his first appearance for Manchester City on 25 September 2007 against Norwich City in the League Cup, coming on as a substitute and set up the winning goal for Georgios Samaras. On 15 December 2007 Etuhu then scored his first goal in the Premier League against Bolton Wanderers as Manchester City won 4–2. Following this appearance, Etuhu signed a contract with the club, keeping him until the end of the 2009-10 season.

Loan at Leicester City

On Tuesday, 4 March 2008, he joined Leicester City on loan until the end of the 2007–08 season. Etuhu made his debut four days later, on 8 March, in 0–0 draw against Bristol City. He made two consecutive starts before being dropped to bench against West Bromwich Albion on 15 March, coming on in the 88th minute. Due to new signing David Bell from Luton Town, Etuhu remained the final two months of his loan on bench, making brief appearances for the Foxes. Leicester were relegated at the end of the season.

Loan at Cardiff City

On 22 August 2009 Etuhu joined Football League Championship side Cardiff City on a season-long loan, making his debut the following day as a replacement for Michael Chopra during a 3–0 win over Bristol City in the Severnside derby, before making his first start in another Severnside derby against Bristol Rovers in the second round of the League Cup. However Etuhu suffered an injury blow in only his fourth appearance with the side when he damaged ankle ligaments during a 1–0 defeat to Newcastle United, ruling him out for up to two months. He made his return on 29 November 2009 during a 2–1 defeat to Ipswich Town, coming on as a substitute for Chris Burke. On 8 December, he made his first League start for Cardiff against West Brom at the Hawthorns, as Cardiff won 2–0. Etuhu played an important part in the opening goal, passing to Chris Burke on the halfway line, before making a decoy run, allowing space for Burke to run through and score. He came off in the 58th minute after picking up a knock. On 13 December Etuhu returned to his parent club for a scan on ankle injury, which was picked up against Middlesbrough, after he came on to replace injured Peter Whittingham, Etuhu returned to Cardiff and stayed of the bench for the rest of 2009 coming on for either Chris Burke or Jay Bothroyd. An injury Etuhu suffered in training kept him sidelined for 3 Months, he returned to Manchester for treatment.

He returned on 24 March and made the bench for a 1–1 draw with Sheffield United, then making starts against Crystal Palace and Leicester City as a replacement for suspended Jay Bothroyd. Cardiff made it to the Championship play-off final at Wembley, Etuhu played the game coming on for an injured Jay Bothroyd, but didn't make a major impact on the game. Even though taking the lead twice, Cardiff eventually lost the game 3–2.

Etuhu was not included in Manchester City's Premier League squad for the 2010–11 season. and was released from his contract in March 2011, following his jailing for an assault outside a Manchester casino.

Portsmouth

On 19 January 2012, Etuhu signed for Portsmouth, who he had been training with for the past two months, until the end of the season. Michael Appleton, who was then the manager, backed Kelvin Etuhu to shine at Portsmouth and seize a second chance of a football career there. Etuhu made his debut in the 3–2 defeat to Cardiff City on 21 January 2012 and played a starring role a week later in a 3–0 victory at Peterborough United. Following his debut for Portsmouth, Etuhu suffered a hamstring injury. During his time at Portsmouth, they went into administration for the second time in 2 years. On 27 February 2012, Etuhu extended his stay by another month having been given the green light by the Football League. Etuhu scored his first Portsmouth goal in his side's 4-1 victory over Birmingham City at Fratton Park on 20 March 2012.

After the season's final game with Portsmouth relegated, Etuhu expressed his desire to stay at the club and try to help the club bounce back. Etuhu also stated that he was loving life on the South Coast. But Sky Sports understood that Bradford Cityand Barnsleywere subsequently interest in signing Etuhu. On 22 May 2012, Appleton confirmed that Etuhu was likely to be offered a two-year contract and was confident the winger would agree to stay despite the club financial plight, and believed that Etuhu would remain at the club.

Barnsley

However, on 8 June 2012, Etuhu agreed to sign for Barnsley on a one-year contract after Etuhu left Portsmouth by mutual consent, due to their financial problems, and becoming Keith Hill's first signing of the summer where Etuhu played under Hill during his time at Rochdale. Hill revealed that he tried to sign Etuhu the previous season but Portsmouth won the race. On joining Barnsley, Etuhu was given number twenty-three shirt.

Etuhu made his debut, in the opening game of the season, coming on as a substitute in the 17th minutes, in a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough. However, under the management of Keith Hill, Etuhu playing time of minutes significantly decreased, but under the management of David Flitcroft, Etutu first team increase, with Flitcroft placed him in the central-midfield. In a 1-0 win over Watford on 16 March 2013, his performance earned him a man of the match. In his first season, Etuhu made his thirty appearance in all competitions and mostly wasn't included in the line-up or just stayed in the bench as an unused substitute. At the end of the season, Etuthu will be retained for another season, which he signed a two-year deal.

After two years at Barnsley, Etuthu was among ten players to stay at the club.

Bury

On the 27 of June 2014 Bury announced that Etuhu had signed a two-year deal after his release from Barnsley. Upon joining the club, Etuhu was given number six shirt this season.

Etuhu made his Bury debut on 16 August 2014, in a 2-0 win over Hartlepool United. Having established himself in the first team at Bury throughout the season, playing in various midfielder position, Etuhu scored his first goal of the league of the season, in a 2-0 win over Tranmere Rovers on 4 October 2014. Etuhu then scored his second goal of the season, in a 2-1 win over Northampton Town on 21 March 2015. At the end of the 2014-15 season where Etuhu made forty-six appearance and scoring two times in all competitions, Etuhu was offered a new contract by the club, which he signed a two-year contract extension on 22 May 2015.

Last updated 2012-04-28

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Although not capped at international level, he is eligible to play for England or Nigeria. In May 2009 he declared his intention to pursue an international career with Nigeria.

Growing up with four brothers, Kelvin considered himself and Dickson as "the athletes in the family" that he consider Dickson as inspiration. Etuhu grew up in Peckham, South London and attended Saint Thomas the Apostle boys school. But then, the family moved to Manchester following Dickson's pursued his professional ambitions with City.

Assault charge

On 13 July 2010, Etuhu was arrested on charges relating to an assault outside a Manchester casino in February. Three people were injured, Etuhu was charged with assault and appeared before the magistrates on 6 August 2010. Etuhu was given an eight-month jail sentence on 24 March 2011 causing Manchester City to release him from his contract.