Experienced midfielder signed by Tony Pulis despite having a broken leg at the time. Renowned for a lethal long throw
The former Southampton and Derby County veteran initially joined Stoke on loan from Sunderland in 2006, with a view to making the move permanent.
However he broke his leg on his debut – against Sunderland – putting him out of action for the rest of the season. Tony Pulis went ahead and signed him anyway, and he was rewarded for his risk during the following campaign, when the Republic of Ireland international – who has honed his long-range throw-ins as a valuable extra weapon in City’s attacking arsenal – served up a series of high-octane performance.