DANNY GABBIDON

Born: 8 August 1979, Cwmbran, Wales
Former clubs: West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City (loan), Cardiff City

A talented centre-back, 2005/06 Hammer of the Year Danny Gabbidon has suffered cruel luck with injuries in recent seasons.

On his day, however, Gabbidon is one of the finest defenders around, having impressed hugely with his consistency since moving to West Ham United from Cardiff City in the summer of 2005.

At international level, Gabbidon is approaching 50 senior caps for his country, having excelled for Wales since making his debut in the spring of 2002.

2010/11

Enjoyed a welcome injury-free campaign during which he made 27 first-team appearances in all competitions and passed the 100-appearance mark for West Ham United...Made 26 Barclays Premier League appearances, 24 of them starts...Made his 100th appearance for West Ham United in the 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at Sunderland on 5 December 2010...Started the 3-2 home FA Cup fourth-round victory over Nottingham Forest...Shown four yellow cards.

2009/10

Returned to action at the Barclays Asia Trophy in Beijing, China, scoring his first goal in four years in the 2-0 third-place play-off against Beijing Guoan on 31 July 2009...Returned to Premier League action as left-back in the 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic on 12 September 2009…Totalled ten Premier League appearances, eight of them starts…Started the League Cup second-round win over Millwall on 24 August 2009.

2008/09

Missed the whole season with a complex back and abdominal injury.

2007/08

Made ten Premier League appearances, eight of them starts…Made four League Cup appearances, three of them starts…Injured in the home League Cup fifth-round defeat by Everton on 12 December 2007…Made one Barclays Premier Reserve League South appearance in 1-0 win at Portsmouth on 23 January 2008.

2006/07

Made 18 Premier League appearances, all of them starts…Started both UEFA Cup first-round meetings with Palermo…Made one League Cup and one FA Cup start…Totalled 22 appearances in all competitions…Ruled out from January 2007 by hamstring and groin injuries.

2005/06

Joined West Ham United from Cardiff City on 5 July 2005...Made his competitive West Ham United debut in the 3-1 home win over Blackburn Rovers on 13 August 2005…Totalled 32 Premier League appearances, 31 of them starts…Was an ever present in West Ham United's run to the FA Cup final, starting all seven ties…Totalled 39 appearances in all competitions…Voted Hammer of the Year.

International career

Capped by Wales at U18, U21 and senior level…Capped three times at U18 level…Capped 17 times at U21 level between 1999 and 2001…Called into the senior squad for the first time for the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Belarus in October 2001, and named as an unused substitute…Made his senior Wales debut in the goalless home draw with Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on 27 March 2002 at the age of 22…Helped Wales reach the 2004 UEFA European Championship play-offs before losing to Russia over two legs…Captained Wales in the 1-0 friendly defeat by Cyprus in Limassol on 16 November 2005…Ended the 2009/10 season with 43 caps to his name...Retired from international football in October 2010, but made himself available again in January 2011 following a telephone call from new Wales manager Gary Speed.

Before West Ham United

Joined West Bromwich Albion as a trainee...Made his first-team debut for West Bromwich Albion in 1-0 home Division One defeat by Ipswich Town on 20 March 1999…Totalled 27 appearances for West Bromwich Albion…Joined Cardiff City on loan on 10 August 2000…Made the move to Cardiff City permanent for £175,000 on 21 September 2000…Made his Cardiff City debut in 1-1 home Division Two draw with Blackpool on 19 August 2000…Helped Cardiff City reach the Division Two play-off semi-finals in 2001/02…Gained promotion to Division One via the play-offs in 2002/03, defeating Queens Park Rangers 1-0 at the Millennium Stadium in the final…Named in the 2003/04 PFA Division One Team of the Season…Totalled 219 appearances and ten goals in five seasons with Cardiff City.

Any other business

Is close friends with former West Ham United team-mate and Wales international colleague James Collins.