Tom Huddlestone

Thomas Andrew "Tom" Huddlestone, , (born 28 December 1986 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire) is a professional English Association football player for Tottenham Hotspur F.C..

Club career

Huddlestone made Tom Huddlestone Derby debut on the opening day of the 2003-04 in English football season in a 3-0 home defeat to Stoke City F.C., but despite the defeat, Tom Huddlestone was voted Man of the Match.

Huddlestone signed for Tottenham in January 2005 for a fee reported to be worth up to £3 million, but remained at Derby until the summer.
Huddlestone spent a few months of the 2005-06 in English football season on loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., scoring Tom Huddlestone first league goal, ironically at Derby, before returning to make Tom Huddlestone début for Tottenham as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat away at Fulham F.C. on 31 January 2006

Tom Huddlestone first start for Tottenham came on 14 September 2006, away to Slavia Prague in the UEFA Cup, a game which Tottenham won 1-0.
Tom Huddlestone first goal for Spurs came in the Football League Cup 4th Round match against Port Vale on 8 November 2006. Huddlestone scored 2 goals in this match, Tom Huddlestone second goal proving decisive in extra time, taking Tottenham through to the quarter finals of the competition.
Huddlestone got Tom Huddlestone first league goal for Spurs on 17 December 2006 against Manchester City with an excellent half-volley on 24 minutes, hit first-time after assisting with team mate Calum Davenport's first goal with a free-kick.

Huddlestone established himself as one of the most promising young English central midfielders in the premiership towards the end of the 2006-07 season and head coach Martin Jol compared Tom Huddlestone with German legend Franz Beckenbauer due to Tom Huddlestone playmaking abilities, ferocious shot power and versatility .

On 25 December 2006, Tom Huddlestone signed a new four and a half year contract - keeping Tom Huddlestone at the club until 2011. Tom signed a new and improved five-year contract on 30 June 2008 committing Tom Huddlestone future to Tottenham Hotspur until 2013.
Tom Huddlestone came on as a substitute as Spurs beat Chelsea in the 2008 Football League Cup Final.

International career

Tom Huddlestone is a regular in the England national under-21 football team. Tom Huddlestone played twice in the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship before a red card for dissent ruled Tom Huddlestone out of the semi-final and final.

Tom Huddlestone was called up into the England national football team squad by coach Fabio Capello to face United States men's national soccer team and Trinidad and Tobago national football team in friendlies, but remained an unused substitute.

Attributes

Tom Huddlestone is known for Tom Huddlestone size and Tom Huddlestone superb passing range which has led to comparisons with former team-mate Michael Carrick and more recently to Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle.
Tom Huddlestone also has a powerful shot that has enabled Tom Huddlestone score long range goals from midfield.

Honours

Tottenham Hotspur
- Football League Cup: Football League Cup 2007-08

Career stats

^{Correct as of 1 June 2008}

Personal life

Tom Huddlestone grew up in Nottingham and Tom Huddlestone attended Greenwood Dale School in Sneinton, Nottingham.