Who had a Nile Ranger comeback on their 2024 bingo card? - Former Magpie has found a new club

Nile Ranger has returned to football after a two-year spell out of the game and has signed on with Kettering Town who play in the seventh tier of the England league.

It's crazy to think that there could well be people reading this who have no idea who the infamous Nile Ranger even is.

The former Newcastle striker who got his start at a professional level at St James' Park was blessed with footballing talent and an ability to get into trouble in equal measure.

Rarely was it a case of good news if you saw Ranger's name in the headlines, although in his 62 first-team appearances he did manage three goals and four assists.

Newcastle terminated Nile Ranger's contract in 2013 after a slew of issues

Following a couple of loan moves away from the club with Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle terminated the controversial forward's contract in 2013 and from there he's tumbled down the football pyramid while maintaining his streak of getting into trouble.

Ranger has had a couple of spells behind bars as well as various legal troubles and problems with discipline at several clubs.

Now 33, Kettering will be hoping that he is a bit more wise and can buckle down and get on with his football.

Ranger wanted to be a gangsta more than a footballer

Ranger had tremendous promise on the pitch and represented England at Under 19 level, but his desire to be a gun-toting gangsta outweighed his passion for football.

Here's hoping he has got his act together and he can play out the last couple of years of his career trouble-free.

Even at 33, you can imagine he'd do bits in the Southern Premier Central, right?