Editing James Milner (section)

===Leeds United===
Milner's first-team debut for Leeds came on 10 November 2002, in a match against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], when he came on as a [[Substitute (association football)|substitute]] for [[Jason Wilcox]] for the last six minutes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/948604 |title=Milner: I gave the ball away with my first touch! |publisher=Premier League |date=20 December 2018 |access-date=22 April 2021 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904110800/https://www.premierleague.com/news/948604 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2388573.stm |title=Leeds win Upton Park thriller |website=BBC Sport |date=10 November 2002 |access-date=22 April 2021 |archive-date=8 June 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040608071308/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2388573.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> The appearance made him the second-youngest player ever to play in the [[Premier League]], at the age of 16 years and 309 days.<ref name=ESPN/> On 26 December 2002, at 16 years and 356 days, he became the youngest player to score in the Premier League, with a goal in a 2–1 win against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]].<ref name=interview/><ref>{{cite news |title=The Premiership's youngest guns |website=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/football/features/newsid_2609000/2609487.stm |date=27 December 2002 |access-date=11 August 2007 |archive-date=28 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090328052756/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sportacademy/hi/sa/football/features/newsid_2609000/2609487.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> His record was broken by [[James Vaughan (footballer, born 1988)|James Vaughan]] of [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/photo_galleries/photos_of_the_day/4432217.stm |title=Youngest Premiership goalscorers |website=BBC Sport |date=11 April 2005 |access-date=18 September 2009 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904110817/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?ci=bbc&cg=0&rd=1630753689758&si=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Fsport2%2Fhi%2Fphoto_galleries%2Fphotos_of_the_day%2F4432217.stm&rp=&sr=1600x1000&cd=24&lg=en-US&je=n&ck=y&tz=0&ct=&hp=&tl=BBC%20SPORT%20%7C%20Photo%20Galleries%20%7C%20Photos%20of%20the%20Day%20%7C%20Youngest%20Premiership%20goalscorers&ts=v5.js |url-status=live}}</ref> In a match against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] two days later, Milner scored again, with a deft first touch of the ball and manoeuvre, to avoid a tackle from Chelsea defender [[Marcel Desailly]].<ref name="Chelsea goal"/> The manoeuvre created a yard of space for him to deliver a curling shot from {{convert|18|yd|m|0}}.<ref name="Chelsea goal">{{cite news |title=Goal of the week – Master Milner's class act |website=BBC Sport |date=22 December 2002 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2613467.stm |access-date=13 September 2007 |archive-date=12 July 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040712185211/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2613467.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> Reporters were impressed by his overall performance in the match, especially by his desire, confidence, and ability with both feet.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2597007.stm |title=Chelsea crash to Leeds |website=BBC Sport |date=28 December 2002 |access-date=22 April 2021 |archive-date=8 June 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040608025603/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2597007.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> Chelsea manager [[Claudio Ranieri]] remarked after the match that Milner had performed like a much more experienced player.<ref name=Chelsea2>{{cite news |last=Taylor |first=Daniel |title=Milner fills Leeds with teen spirit |newspaper=The Guardian |date=30 December 2002 |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,-40980,00.html |access-date=28 July 2007 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513115727/http://football.guardian.co.uk/Match_Report/0,,-40980,00.html |archive-date=13 May 2008}}</ref> The performance prompted comparisons to [[England national football team|England]] internationals [[Michael Owen]] and Wayne Rooney, who had also come to footballing prominence as teenagers.<ref name=Chelsea>{{cite news |last=Lawrence |first=Amy |title=Magical Milner |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 December 2002 |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/Observer_Match_Report/0,,-40980,00.html |access-date=28 July 2007 |location=London |archive-date=4 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304130428/http://football.guardian.co.uk/Observer_Match_Report/0,,-40980,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

After more appearances for Leeds, Milner signed a five-year contract with them on 10 February 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Milner signs Leeds deal |website=BBC Sport |date=10 February 2003 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/2745555.stm |access-date=11 August 2007 |archive-date=1 April 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030401095232/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/2745555.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> At the start of the [[2003–04 Swindon Town F.C. season|2003–04 season]], Milner was sent on a one-month [[Loan (association football)|loan]] to [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] club [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] to gain experience as a first-team player.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2276708/milner-wont-be-staying-at-swindon |title=Milner won't be staying at Swindon |first=Mark |last=Buckingham |website=Sky Sports |access-date=22 April 2021 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422172507/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/2276708/milner-wont-be-staying-at-swindon |url-status=live}}</ref> Before the stint, he saw it as a valuable experience as a player.<ref name=interview/> He spent a month with Swindon, playing in six matches and scoring two goals against [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/3113816.stm |title=Swindon 2–0 Peterborough |website=BBC Sport |date=27 September 2003 |access-date=3 September 2009 |archive-date=4 October 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031004151038/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/3113816.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/3139868.stm |title=Swindon 2–2 Luton |website=BBC Sport |date=1 October 2003 |access-date=3 September 2009 |archive-date=18 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060518195212/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/3139868.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>

However, Leeds' fortunes were on the decline; the team became the subject of numerous negative stories in the media, and several first-team players were sold.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/from-barcelona-to-league-1-the-sad-story-of-leeds-uniteds/g7m3f4h55ysm1dwylsfxugpmv |title=From Barcelona to League 1 – the sad story of Leeds United's financial collapse |website=Goal |first=Sean |last=Cole |date=3 August 2019 |access-date=22 April 2021 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422172735/https://www.goal.com/en/news/from-barcelona-to-league-1-the-sad-story-of-leeds-uniteds/g7m3f4h55ysm1dwylsfxugpmv |url-status=live}}</ref> Milner said he believed that this experience made him emotionally stronger and taught him how to deal with team problems.<ref name=interview/> Leeds' eventual [[promotion and relegation|relegation]] to the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] led to speculation over Milner's future at the club. [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] and Everton all expressed an interest in signing him.<ref name=ESPN>{{cite web |title=16 James Milner – Midfielder |website=ESPN Soccernet |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=26843&cc=5739 |access-date=28 July 2007 |archive-date=29 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061229231854/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=26843&cc=5739 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Ultimately, Villa and Everton did not make offers and Milner rejected an offer from Tottenham as they were based too far from his family home, where he still lived.<ref name="Milner plots Leeds deal">{{cite news |title=Milner plots Leeds deal |website=BBC Sport |date=13 May 2004 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/3710803.stm |access-date=23 August 2007 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904110800/https://secure-uk.imrworldwide.com/cgi-bin/m?ci=bbc&cg=0&rd=1630753680469&si=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Fsport2%2Fhi%2Ffootball%2Fteams%2Ft%2Ftottenham_hotspur%2F3710803.stm&rp=&sr=1600x1000&cd=24&lg=en-US&je=n&ck=y&tz=0&ct=&hp=&tl=BBC%20SPORT%20%7C%20Football%20%7C%20My%20Club%20%7C%20Tottenham%20Hotspur%20%7C%20Milner%20plots%20Leeds%20deal&ts=v5.js |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=versatile>{{cite news |last=Lucas |first=Ed |title=Versatile Milner may be right for the England left |newspaper=The Independent |date=25 July 2004 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/versatile-milner-may-be-right-for-the-england-left-48903.html |access-date=19 January 2011 |location=London |archive-date=15 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915090844/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/versatile-milner-may-be-right-for-the-england-left-48903.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Leeds insisted that he would not be sold, with chairman [[Gerald Krasner]] referring to him as "the future of Leeds".<ref name=interview/> Nonetheless, financial problems eventually forced Leeds to sell Milner to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] for £5&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3852503.stm |title=Magpies land Milner |website=BBC Sport |date=2 July 2004 |access-date=22 April 2021 |archive-date=9 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060309034042/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/3852503.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> Although Milner was not happy to be leaving the club he had supported as a child, he wished to do what was "in the club's best interest"<ref name=interview/> and in July 2004, he agreed a five-year contract with Newcastle.<ref name=ESPN/>