A full Wales international at the age of 19, Jack Collison's career has flourished since he joined West Ham United as a 16-year-old scholar in the summer of 2005.

Already an important member of the Hammers squad, the all-action midfielder can contribute at both ends of the pitch.

While a serious knee injury has slowed Collison's progress somewhat, the youngster has the application and ability to reach the very top of the game.

2011/12

Signed a new long-term contract with West Ham United on 12 August 2011...Scored his first goal of the season in West Ham United's 4-0 home npower Championship victory over Blackpool on 15 October 2011...Netted his second goal of the season in the 2-0 npower Championship victory at Hull City on 5 November 2011.

2010/11

Spent the vast majority of the season on the sidelines with a serious knee injury...Returned to action in a 1-0 Barclays Premier Reserve League defeat by Manchester United at Bishop's Stortford on 1 April 2011...Totalled four Barclays Premier Reserve League appearances...Made his Barclays Premier League return in 1-1 home draw with Blackburn Rovers on 7 May 2011 - a game which was also his 50th in a West Ham United shirt...Started the final two Barclays Premier League fixtures of the season at Wigan Athletic and at home to Sunderland.

2009/10

Made 22 Premier League appearances, 19 of them starts, scoring two goals…Netted in the 3-3 draw at Hull City on 21 November and the 5-3 home win over Burnley on 28 November…Started the 3-1 home League Cup victory over Millwall on 24 August 2009…Had his season ended by a knee injury in March 2010…Voted BBC London Young Sports Personality of the Year for 2009.

2008/09

Signed a new five-year contract in July 2008…Appeared in pre-season friendly matches at Columbus Crew and against MLS All-Stars during summer tour of North America…Made his first Premier League appearance of the season as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on 29 October…Scored his first Premier League goal in the 3-1 home defeat by Everton on 8 November, his first start at the Boleyn Ground…Added further important goals in the 4-1 Boxing Day win at Portsmouth and 1-0 home win over Manchester City on 1 March…Suffered a dislocated kneecap in the 1-0 victory at Wigan Athletic on 4 March, ruling him out for two months…Ended the season with 20 Premier League appearances, 16 of them starts, and three goals…Made four FA Cup appearances, three of them starts…Totalled two Barclays Premier Reserve League South appearances...Voted Young Hammer of the Year.

2007/08

Appointed reserve-team captain in summer of 2007...Missed just one Barclays Premier Reserve League South match, making 17 starts and scoring three goals…Scored first Barclays Premier Reserve League South goal in 8-0 win at Derby County on 26 November 2007…Made his Premier League debut as a first-half substitute at Arsenal on 1 January 2008…Made his first Premier League start at Bolton Wanderers on 12 April 2008…Totalled two Premier League appearances.

2006/07

Totalled 13 Barclays Premier Reserve League South appearances, ten of them starts…Made 25 U18 appearances, all of them starts, and scored eight goals.

2005/06

Joined West Ham United as a full-time first-year scholar following the disbanding of Cambridge United's youth set-up and a successful trial…Made his reserve-team debut before turning out for the U18s…Made Barclays Premier Reserve League South debut in 1-1 home draw with Crystal Palace on 17 August 2005…Totalled ten Barclays Premier Reserve League South appearances, nine of them starts…Made FA Premier Academy League debut in 3-3 home draw with Everton on 27 August 2005…Scored first FA Premier Academy League goal in 3-2 defeat at Reading on 18 March 2006…Totalled 17 U18 appearances, 14 of them starts, and two goals.

International career

Eligible to play for Wales through his grandfather, who was born in Bedwellty, Monmouthshire…Capped at U21 and senior level…Made his U21 debut on 17 November 2007, scoring the final goal in a 4-0 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Wrexham…Scored in 4-0 UEFA European U21 Championship win in Malta on 5 February 2008…Helped Wales to top UEFA European U21 Championship qualifying Group 10…Started both legs as Wales were edged out by England in a play-off for the 2009 UEFA European U21 Championship finals…Capped seven times at U21 level…Became Wales's 668^th full international when he made his debut in the 1-0 friendly win in Iceland in Reykjavik on 29 May 2008...Earned his second cap in a 2-0 friendly defeat by Netherlands in Rotterdam on 1 June 2009…Totalled seven full international caps by the end of the 2009/10 season.,,Made his first competitive appearance for Wales in their 1-0 defeat by England at Wembley in a UEFA EURO 2012 qualifier on 7 September 2011.

Before West Ham United

Began his career with Peterborough United…Joined Cambridge United in 2000…Cambridge United's relegation from the Football League led to the club disbanding its youth set-up and left him without a club.

Any other business

Is related to the former Wales rugby union captain John Gwilliam.