Having come through the youth ranks at Norwich and made his first team debut in December 2004 at the age of 18, the future looked bright for Danny. He made three league and one FA Cup appearance for the Canaries in the next few weeks and also enjoyed a loan spell at Northampton Town where he scored twice in four starts and six sub appearances.

Released at the end of the season, Danny joined Peterborough in July 2005 and was the club's top scorer that season with 17 goals in League Two, playing in the same side as Paul Carden during the midfielder's one season at London Road.

Having attracted interest from Watford and former club Norwich, he started the following season with five league goals and three in the FA Cup by Christmas, but fell out of favour under new manager Darren Ferguson, who was appointed in January 2007. Restricted to just four more starting appearances, yielding just one more league goal, in May 2007 he was transfer-listed.

The following season he scored two goals in four league games before joining Notts County on loan but managed only two goals in 13 appearances for the underachieving Magpies, who included future U's winger Andy Parkinson.

At the end of the season, following Peterborough's promotion to League One, he was told he was not required and a number of Football League clubs were said to be interested, but he remained on Posh's books until his contract was terminated on transfer deadline day and joined United on a free transfer a few days later. An energetic striker, he holds the ball up well and can also get in behind defences.