 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Manchester City yakamusayina nokuda kwe270,000 muna October 1980. Zvakare aive akajairika akaunganidza makumi mapfumbamwe nematanhatu League kuoneka uye mambure gumi nerimwe nguva. McDonald akanga ari muchikwata cheCity icho chakarasikirwa neFA Cup Final muna 1981kuTottenham Hotspur. Akaenda kuOxford United munaSeptember 1983 uye akakunda Third Division medal mumwaka wake wokutanga, achiteverwa neChipiri Division medal muna 1984-85. Mumitambo yeLigi neOxford akaita makwikwi makumi mapfumbamwe nemana uye akarova zvibodzwa gumi nezvina. Akaenda kuLeeds pachikwereti chemwedzi muna Kukadzi 1987, asati ajoina ivo muchibvumirano che 25,000 kuti abatsire United kusundira kuPlay-offs, asi haana kutora chikamu mukufambira mberi kwavo kuenda kuFA Cup Semi-Final sezvo aive Mukombe-akasungwa. 