Clubs: Derby County FC, Tottenham Hotspur FC, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (loan)

• Rejected by hometown club Nottingham Forest FC as a schoolboy, Huddlestone joined local rivals Derby instead and became a teenage sensation, making 88 league appearances in just two seasons before he left for Tottenham in May 2005, still aged 18.

• Spent part of his first season at Spurs on loan to Wolves − for whom he scored his first professional goal, against Derby − but came to the fore in 2006/07 and established his credentials at Premier League and Under-21 level, appearing for England in the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals but missing the 2009 tournament through injury.

• Won his first senior cap − after two previous call-ups − in a November 2009 friendly against Brazil in Qatar; included in the 30-man preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup but failed to make the final 23.

• Helped Tottenham win the 2008 League Cup and enjoyed his best season at the club in 2009/10, as the Londoners finished fourth in the Premier League.

• Served as stand-in skipper as Spurs defeated holders FC Internazionale Milano 3-1 at home on Matchday 4 of the 2010/11 UEFA Champions League, but underwent ankle surgery a week later that would keep him out of action for several months.