Clubs: Leeds United AFC, Tottenham Hotspur FC

• Lennon came through the youth ranks at local club Leeds and became the youngest player to appear in the Premier League when, at the age of 16 years 129 days, he took the field against Tottenham in August 2003 (1-2).

• A sprightly right-winger, he became a regular for Leeds in the second tier in 2004/05 before leaving for Spurs, where he hit top form in the second half of his debut campaign and was surprisingly selected for England's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad.

• Although uncapped at the time of his World Cup call-up, he made his England debut in a pre-tournament friendly against Jamaica (6-0) and dazzled as a substitute in Germany, notably in the quarter-final against Portugal after replacing injured captain David Beckham.

• Unable to consolidate his new high-profile reputation due to a succession of injuries – which kept him out of England duty for two years, from March 2007 to March 2009 – he was nevertheless nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year award three seasons running and was Spurs' player of the year in 2008/09.

• Went to his second World Cup with England in 2010 and made his UEFA Champions League debut later the same year in a 2-2 draw away to SV Werder Bremen on Matchday 1.