KIT SPONSOR: Alice

A LEVEL-headed youngster whose tremendous progress was rewarded with a one-year professional contract in the summer of 2004, just a year into his Scholarship programme.

Snapped up by the club after impressing in a trial game, the Liverpool-born central defender made an immediate impact on the youth team and was ever-present for the Under-19's during the 2003/2004 campaign, displaying an assured and consistent head on such young shoulders.

He also managed to break into the reserve team towards the end of that season and after an impressive pre-season in 2004 he was given a professional deal where his development continued.

The 20 year-old is strong in the air and comfortable on the ground and benefited greatly from working closely with the senior defenders in the first-team squad from an early age.

Allowed to spend the final months of the 2004/2005 season on loan at Danish outfit, Koge Boldklub where he gained much-needed first-team experience and sampled life in a different culture.

Making his Football League debut with a very brief substitute appearance against Chesterfield in January 2005, he then joined Redditch United on loan in October 2005 in a deal that was eventually extended until the end of the 2005/06 season, however he was recalled to the Banks's Stadium in January 2006 due to financial problems at the non-League club.

Spent the final months of 2005/06 on loan at Nationwide Conference North outfit, Hednesford Town before signing a new short-term deal with The Saddlers in May 2006.

Having burst onto the first-team scene early in the 2006/07 campaign with some assured displays and a total of five goals, he was awarded an extended deal and went on to become one of the real success stories of our Championship-winning campaign.

He will be looking forward to testing his ability on the League One stage in 2007/08 and continuing the superb progress that he has made. Signed a new three-year deal in June 2007.