Tom Huddlestone

Thomas Huddlestone (born December 28, 1986 in Nottingham) is a professional English people soccer player for Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. He can play either in defender (football) or midfielder, with the latter being the position considered his best.

The North London club acquired his services from Derby County F.C. in July 2005 for an initial fee of £600,000 with possible add-ons taking the fee to around £2M, rumoured to be around £2.5 million. He had made his Derby début on the opening day of the 2003-04 in English football season in a 3-0 defeat to Stoke City F.C..

Huddlestone spent a few months of the 2005-06 in English football season on loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., scoring his first league goal, ironically at Derby, before returning to make his début for Tottenham as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat away at Fulham F.C. on 31 January2006.

His first start for Tottenham came on September 142006, away to Slavia Prague in the UEFA Cup, a game which Tottenham won 1-0.

His first goal for Spurs came in the Football League Cup 4th Round match against Port Vale on November 8 2006. Huddlestone scored 2 goals in this match, his second goal proving decisive in extra time, taking Tottenham through to the quarter finals of the competition.

Huddlestone got his first league goal for Spurs on 17 December2006 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.

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

His large figure makes him a presence in midfield, though despite this, it does not seem to be the dominant attrribute he possesses. He also has an excellent passing range, which has led to comparisons with former team-mate Michael Carrick and more recently to Tottenham legend Glenn Hoddle .

On 25 December2006, he signed a new four and a half year contract - keeping him at the club until 2011.

Career stats

^{Correct as of 13 May 2007}