Mark finally joined the Blues in August 1999 after somewhat protracted negotiations with his former club, Portuguese giants Benfica.

Groomed into a professional at Luton Town, the Merthyr Tydfil-born midfielder enjoyed spells at Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday, Benfica before joining Everton for £800,000.

He suffered an array of niggling injuries during his early days at Goodison and the Welsh international finally celebrated his comeback in the final game of the 2001/2002 season against Arsenal and stayed largely injury-free in the 2002/03 campaign.

That season was to be his last on Merseyside as he agreed to join Fulham. Mark endured a four-year spell with the London side and was not offered a new deal in May 2007.