PLAYER PROFILE

Danny Higginbotham

Position: Defence

Height: 6'1

Weight: 12st 3lbs

Date of Birth: 1978-12-29 Manchester, England

Danny Higginbotham

Danny Higginbottom joined Southampton on the final day of the transfer window in January 2003 on loan until the end of the season. The deal had been rumbling on for nearly two weeks, as Derby County desperately tried to recoup some of the £2 million they spent on the player.

Saints have also agreed a £1.5m unconditional package for the move to become permanent at the end of the season when the 24-year-old will sign a four-year contract.

He only made three full apearances during his furst few months at the club and will no doubt be hoping to establish himself properly in the following seasons.

Danny signed from Manchester United before the start of the 2000/01 season having enjoyed limited success at Old Trafford. He made just two starts due to the continued form of Denis Irwin and Phil Neville at left back.

The youngster had been touted as a future England international in the position which has proved something of a problem to Glenn Hoddle and Kevin Keegan and now Sven Goran Eriksson.

He was loaned to Royal Antwerp with Ronnie Wallwork and was involved in an incident with a Belgian referee which led to a one-year suspension from football, which was later suspended.

His pace and ability enabled him to command a regular place in Derby's defence. Higginbottom made 33 appearances for Derby in 2000/2001. He was booked three times. He was awarded Derby's Player of the Year award for the 2001/02 season despite the Rams getting relegated.

At first he struggled to hold down a regular place in the first team, but his versitality ensured it wasn't long before he was commanding a regular spot, and he ended up making over 30 appearances for the side.