As a schoolboy, Green spent time at Walsall, West Brom and Wolverhampton Wanderers before Derby County took him on trial as a centre-forward where he would do two year apprenticeship and two-year professional. He ultimately failed to play a single game for Derby but would have a successful loan spell in 1989 with Finnish side Euran Pallo, scoring 23 goals in 17 matches. In 1990, Green signed for Bolton Wanderers for £50,000, making his début against Shrewsbury Town. scoring his first goal against Bristol City at Burnden Park. He would help Wanderers reach the play-offs that season, and made an appearance in the 1991 play-off final at Wembley against Tranmere. In 1993 Green would help Bolton Secure Promotion to the First Division by beating Preston North End on the final day of the season 1–0 at Burnden Park to secure automatic promotion. In 1994, Green switched to full-back helping Bolton achieve promotion to the Premier League and also played in the 1995 Football League Cup Final against Liverpool.