Izale McLeod

Izale Michael McLeod (born 15 October 1984) is a retired English professional footballer who played as a forward.

He has played in The Football League for Derby County, Milton Keynes Dons, Charlton Athletic, Barnet, Portsmouth, Crawley Town, Notts County and Yeovil Town.

He also played for England U21.

McLeod is the all-time leading scorer for Milton Keynes Dons with 71 goals in 188 appearances.

Born in Perry Barr, Birmingham, McLeod began his career at Derby County in 2002.

He made his debut on 28 September 2002, at the age of seventeen, just three weeks before his eighteenth birthday, in a 1–0 win over Ipswich Town during which he received a yellow card.

Weeks later on 30 October 2002, he scored his first goal in a 2–1 win over Sheffield United and scored against the other Sheffield team, Sheffield Wednesday, the following week in a 3–1 win.

After getting his chance in the first team, McLeod signed a two-year deal.

However the following season, McLeod suffered a knee cartilage injury in training, and was out for 6 weeks following surgery, losing his first team place as a result.

In the transfer window, McLeod was linked with a move to Russian and Ukrainian clubs, like Shinnik Yaroslavl.

McLeod was close to joining Shinnik Yaroslavl and Metalurh Donetsk, with the moves reportedly around the £300,000 mark.

However, McLeod eventually rejected the moves and stayed at Derby County, to fight for his place in the first team.

But he spent time on loan at First Division club Sheffield United, making seven appearances.

During his career at Derby, McLeod scored four goals in 41 appearances.

At the beginning of the 2004–05 season he joined newly relegated League One club Milton Keynes Dons for a reported fee of £150,000.

In the opening game of the season, he scored in his MK Dons debut in a 1–1 draw against Barnsley.

On 25 September 2004, he received a red card for the first time of his career and also scored a brace in a 4–2 win over Hartlepool United.

At the end of the season, he had scored 18 goals in a total of 48 appearances in an excellent start at MK Dons.

At the start of his second season at MK Dons, he signed a two-year deal.

McLeod was named in the PFA Team of the Year for League Two for the 2006–07 season.

At the end of the season, McLeod was linked with clubs in Championship, having handed in a transfer request.

In early March 2007, the Football League declared him League Two player of the year and he finished that season as League Two's joint top scorer despite missing several games due to injuries and suspensions.

McLeod joined Charlton for a fee of £1.1 million, which could rise to £1.55 million, on a four-year contract on 9 August 2007.

He scored just one goal in 18 appearances for the Addicks before he joined Colchester United on loan on 29 February 2008 for one month.

It was later revealed that Charlton had turned down approaches from League One clubs Crewe Alexandra and Huddersfield Town.

However, his loan spell was cut short after he suffered a knee injury in the game against Plymouth Argyle on 4 March 2008, ruling him out for the remainder of the 2007–08 season.

His time at Charlton had not gone as planned and he couldn't reproduce his form at MK Dons.

McLeod joined Millwall on loan during the January transfer window in 2009 in an attempt to overcome the injury problems which had plagued his Charlton career, scoring two goals in five appearances.

However, after falling out with manager Kenny Jackett, McLeod returned to Charlton.

On 9 January 2010, McLeod joined Championship club Peterborough United on loan until the end of the season.

McLeod made his Peterborough debut in a 2–1 loss against Sheffield Wednesday on 23 January 2010.

After making three more appearances, he fell out of favour with manager Mark Cooper, due to a discipline issue.

Even worse, McLeod suffered a meniscus problem, ruling him out for six to eight weeks.

As a result of his injury, he returned to Charlton.

McLeod left Charlton Athletic after his contract was cancelled in July 2010.

After unsuccessful trials over the summer of 2010 with Brentford and Southend United, McLeod signed a one-year contract with Barnet on 29 September 2010.

His penalty against Port Vale on the final day of the 2010–11 season saved the club from relegation out of the Football League.

On 18 May 2011, he signed for another year at Barnet.

McLeod had a great start to the 2011–12 League Two season.

He scored both goals as Barnet twice came from behind to draw 2–2 at home with then league leaders Gillingham.