I know there is some dispute over whether it was the 200th or his 199th because of question marks about some goal at Luton a few years ago but, as far as I am concerned, it's 200 for Howard – and here's to the next 200, Steve. You will be as old as me when you get there!

The striker said the months since his loan at Bloomfield Road ended in May, when he had to return to City, had been tough as he yearned for a permanent move back to the Seasiders.

Campbell said he desperately wanted to rejoin Ian Holloway's men, but was determined to be professional at City until a deal was done.

Campbell certainly appeared committed as he scored five goals during pre-season for City and opened his league account in the 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace on the opening day of the season.

Because of his form, boss Paulo Sousa said he thought Campbell had a big role to play for City this season, but the 28-year-old expressed his desire to join Blackpool and a deal was eventually done, now believed to be worth £1.25 million according to reports in Blackpool.

Campbell immediately flew out to Latvia with his new team-mates and scored their consolation goal in a 2-1 friendly defeat to FK Jelgava on Thursday night. "The last few months have been hard for me," admitted Campbell

"I am a footballer and I obviously wanted to still be professional at Leicester.

"It was difficult though. I kept in contact with a few of the lads at Blackpool.

"They showed me support by letting me know they wanted me to come back.

"My agent was speaking to the club so we knew that both parties wanted to do it. It was just about whether it was going to get done. Finally it has gone through and I am just delighted.

"I'm really pleased to be able to work with Ian Holloway again and the lads, although there's quite a few new lads here now.

"They've had some good results so far in the Premier League and I just want to be part of it and score some goals."

The 30-year-old Nigerian international is a free agent after being released by Bolton on Wednesday and City are said to be interested in him to bolster their central defensive options.

City boss Paulo Sousa failed to bring in a centre back on transfer-deadline day after a bid for Swansea City's Ashley Williams was rejected. He then ran out of time negotiating a deal for Hull City's Kamil Zayatte.

City are lining up a loan move for Zayatte when the loan window opens on Wednesday, possibly with a view to a permanent deal, but 6ft 3in Shittu's availability may tempt Sousa, who wants to add a defender with a physical presence.

Shittu started his career in England at Charlton Athletic in 1999 but failed to make an appearance. After loan spells at Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers, he joined QPR on a permanent basis in 2002.

He spent four years at Loftus Road and made 162 appearances before joining Watford in 2006 for £1.6 million.

Watford were relegated from the Premier League at the end of that season but Shittu was named in the Championship team of the year the following campaign.

He signed a three-year contract with Bolton in 2008, the fee being £2 million.

He made only 10 appearances in his first season and did not feature at all during the last campaign, and his contract was cancelled on September 1.

Celtic are also said to be interested in Shittu, who has been capped 28 times by Nigeria.

When Waghorn arrived at the Walkers Stadium on loan last season he was unknown.

But after scoring 12 goals during a superb first full season at first-team level, Waghorn knows the expectation will be higher this season.

The 20-year-old, who has signed a four-year contract, said the £2 million price tag, which could rise to £3 million, would not be a burden, but he is determined to deliver for the club and justify their outlay.

"Obviously, the fans will be expecting something," he said.

"I have signed for a lot of money in the Championship, so there will be a bit of pressure there, but I have come to play football and I am not going to let it burden me.

"Obviously, I have to repay the club in some way but I am here to play football and I want to enjoy myself. Whatever happens will happen.

"I am not worried or fazed. I am only young and I know it is a lot of money but the way the football industry works these days there will be signings like this. This is just another signing for me.

"I don't take much interest in the fee, it is between the two clubs.

"As soon as I heard about the sale I didn't think about the fee, I just thought about settling in. It is just about what I can do for the team now."

The transfer came out of the blue for Waghorn. Although he admits he was stunned by the speed of the deal, he said it will not take him long to settle in at City.

"I have to think about settling and finding a place to live, because I was about to move into a new place in Sunderland with my girlfriend when I heard about this move," he added. "Luckily that didn't go through. But it should be easy because I have settled here before, I know the lads and I know Leicester. I am looking forward to it now."

Meanwhile, City midfielder Andy King will be clocking up the air miles.

After playing for Wales in their European Championship qualifier in Montenegro last night, the 21-year-old will fly out to link up with the under-21 squad in Budapest to prepare for their game against Italy in Pescara on Tuesday night.

Not only that, but he marked his first start in the Premier League with a debut goal for Blackpool, the latest staging-post in a seven-year professional career which started at Crewe and has taken in Charlton, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby.

Varney earned man-of-the-match plaudits and Match of the Day coverage for his strike in the 2-2 draw with Fulham, just 24 hours after meeting his new team-mates for the first time.

Speaking to the Mercury from Blackpool's training camp in Latvia, he cast his mind back to his first tentative steps in the game.

"I'd worked at a cash and carry warehouse and then a hosiery place in Tudor Road and was happy playing for Birstall United," said Varney.

"Quorn were interested in signing me but it was a bit far for me because I didn't drive.

"But my girlfriend Carly, (now Mrs Varney) comes from there and said it was a nice club and that the chairman, Stuart Turner, was good.

"There were times when I was struggling because I worked shifts and Stuart used to pick me up. I've always had his support."

Turner was at Bloomfield Road last weekend as he travelled with his son, Iain, to be Varney's guests at the game.

Turner said: "It was a very proud moment and the fact he scored topped it all off.

"The great thing about Luke is that he's a proper person, he's no big-time Charlie and has worked hard for his breaks."

That's true. He's a dyed-in-the-wool Leicester lad.

When he was asked by the Mercury, if he had been to Latvia before, he replied: "No, and I won't be coming back!

He added: "I think it's important to keep level-headed. Last weekend was the greatest because I didn't even think I would be starting and end up scoring on my debut.

"But then it's a case of getting back to reality because the game does have its ups and downs."

And it's fair to say, Varney has experienced one or two.

He had four years at Crewe and, in his final season, 2006-07, scored 25 goals, including the one which took a League Cup tie with Manchester United into extra-time.

There was interest that summer from Middlesbrough but Varney moved to Charlton, scoring on his debut against his hometown club, but the move to the Addicks, newly dumped into the Championship after a spell in the top flight, never really worked out.

Varney said: "It was a weird period in the club's history and they ended up in League One."

Varney scored 10 goals in 57 appearances and reflected: "That was okay but I wanted to score more."

A loan move to Derby late in 2008 became permanent in 2009 and he said: "It was great to come home after living in London for a while. Carly has been great and given me so much support.

"She's right behind me and we are married now and hope to start a family."

But Varney has only started 12 games for the Pride Park club and had a loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday which saw him score 11 goals.

"I had a great time there and the fans were superb. It was such a shame they were relegated," he said

There are suggestions that financial restraints are limiting Varney's chances at Derby as the Mercury understands that Charlton have a sell-on clause based on the number of appearances for Nigel Clough's side.

"I don't really want to go into that because I really want things to work out at Derby They are a big club and a have great fan base."

Inevitably, every time a transfer window opens and shuts, the possibility returns of Varney one day playing for his home-town club.

He said: "It's perhaps not going to happen now. Paulo Sousa is signing different players but you never know. It's always been my dream."