The 30-year-old's time at Elland Road was blighted by a luckless run on the injury front and the fact that he spent more time sitting with the Whites legions in the stands as opposed to displaying the on-pitch form that saw him plunder 26 goals for Port Vale in 2006/07 will forever be a disappointment.

But it would have rankled with Constantine – who joined Northampton Town on a free transfer on Wednesday – a hell of a lot more if it wasn't for the support of the United punters, who picked him up when his spirits were low and made him feel truly part of a special club.

If anyone had cause to feel down in the mouth last season it was Constantine, with a sign of things to come arriving when he broke his ankle in an innocuous-looking tackle in United's first pre-season friendly against Czech side Slovan Liberic just over a year ago which KO'd him for three months.

Having fought his way back into first-team contention, another hammer blow duly arrived when he cracked his toe shortly after returning.

And he probably didn't know whether to laugh or cry when he broke his arm while scoring United's goal in the 3-1 loss to Oldham on New Year's Day, shortly after coming on as a half-time sub.

That proved to be Constantine's last-ever appearance for the Whites but, while his United career was ultimately not meant to be, if anyone thinks he will look back at his time in West Yorkshire as a blot on his career, they'd be very much mistaken.

Constantine, who still managed to score three goals for United last term – despite featuring just seven times and starting two matches in all competitions – said: "The supporters kind of made it easier when I wasn't playing with the way they were and I'll never forget that.
"They were fun. Seriously, I'm going to miss them.

"I'll always remember the away game at Carlisle in the play-offs when they were all grabbing my hand and singing my name.

"These things matter – sometimes I don't think supporters know how important they are to the players, especially those who are not playing.

"Sometimes, if you are at a club and aren't in the starting 11, the fans don't want to know you. But it was completely different at Leeds – the fans were unbelievable."

After his injury hell came the tricky proposition of proving himself to a new manager for the much-travelled forward.

Not for the want of trying, Constantine failed to propel himself into Gary McAllister's thoughts when he was handed the United reins and he spent a short loan spell at Oldham at the start of spring.

But he feels no reason to be bitter, with his fate largely taken out of his hands by his injuries.

Having consigned a write-off of a campaign to the back of his mind, he is now fully fit and focused on doing the business at Sixfields, where he links up with a familiar face in bustling forward Adebayo Akinfenwa, who he played with during his time at Torquay.

On exiting Elland Road despite having 12 months left on his deal Constantine – signed by McAllister's predecessor Dennis Wise – said: "That's football at the end of the day, isn't it.

"The opportunity isn't at Leeds and I didn't want to sit around and not be involved.

"I could have stayed at Leeds; I had a year left. But I am not one of those people, I'm not the sort to just sit around and pick up money for the sake of it.

"I want to play football, that's the whole reason why I got involved in the sport."

The Hackney-born goal assassin, who once played with the Cobblers' arch-rivals Peterborough, added: "I am fit and raring to go this season but in terms of Leeds, it's not to be.

"But sometimes, you've just got to go a different way.

"I've still got some good friends at Leeds. The boys there are unbelievable and have been really good team-mates.

"Other than me being injured, which was the only downfall, everything was good.

"I'll always have good memories of the club, the supporters and people to do with the club.

"I think I leave Leeds with my head held high. Whenever I played, I did all I could do and scored a few goals.

"It was just unfortunate I got injured but, for me, it's great to have been part of a club like Leeds.

"People get injuries, that's part and parcel of the game. If I was the only player in the world who had got injured, then I could understand being down.

"I got injured trying to do well for the club. It was one of those things that happened and there was nothing I could do about it.

"I couldn't believe my luck and it was really difficult at times. But then again, I had a season before that where I scored 26 goals.

"That's how it goes in football, you have your ups and downs. It's about how you bounce back from things and I'm a firm believer that I will bounce back and I'm looking forward to this season."

On plumping for Northampton despite plenty of interest from elsewhere, Constantine said: "There was interest from other places, but Northampton just felt right.

"I've played in the area and know what the supporters are like and that they get behind the club.

"The facilities are good and it's a good club that's run well and it's another chapter.

"Linking up with Bayo was another thing for me. We played very well together and it was somebody that I know very well and have worked well with before, so it had a lot to do with it.

"When you are wanted by a club, it's a really good thing."