PLAYER PROFILE

Leon Cort

Position: Defence

Height: 6'3

Weight: 13st 1lbs

Date of Birth: 1979-09-11 Southwark, England

Leon Cort

An experienced campaigner, Leon Cort began his career with non-league Dulwich Hamlet in 1997, before joining Millwall a year later.

Cort spent three years at the Den and enjoyed loan spells at Forest Green Rovers and Stevenage Borough, but did not play for the Lions and moved on to Southend United in 2001.

Eleven goals in 137 appearances for the Shrimpers helped Cort make his name and in 2004 he signed for Hull, where he again showed his class.

2006 saw a switch to Crystal Palace, but once Neil Warnock replaced Peter Taylor at Selhurst Park, Cort found himself loaned out to Stoke City.

He signed a permanent deal with the Potters in 2008 for a fee of £1.2million, and he is the most expensive transfer in the club's history.