A Republic of Ireland international since 2006, Stephen Kelly has been in and out of the team during that time. A more conventional right-back than the man who has regularly usurped him in the position, John O'Shea, he has spent most of his career in London with Tottenham Hotspur FC and Fulham FC.

• Left his native Dublin in 2000 to join Tottenham's youth academy but did not make his first-team debut until three years later − after loan spells in the lower leagues with Southend United FC and Queens Park Rangers FC.

• Made 37 Premier League appearances for Spurs over the next three seasons, scoring two goals, before he headed north to join Birmingham City FC.

• Made his international debut when Ireland lost 1-0 at home to Chile in Stephen Staunton's second match as manager and made four appearances in the subsequent UEFA EURO 2008 qualifying campaign; he would make five under Giovanni Trapattoni on the road to UEFA EURO 2012.

• Proved a big hit at Birmingham, helping the club secure promotion to the top tier in his first term and playing every minute of the following season's Premier League campaign − the only outfield player in the division to achieve the feat − only to suffer immediate relegation.

• A spell on loan at Stoke preceded a permanent return to the Premier League with Fulham and a fabulous run to the final of the 2009/10 UEFA Europa League, for which he was not among the substitutes.