A broken tibia temporarily ended his professional career and Clarkson was forced to play outside the Football League, signing for Harriers in November 1999.

But the break from full-time football allowed the injury to recover and he was allowed to return to full-time football again with the club.

Clarkson had previously been a solid servant and captain for Birmingham City, Stoke City, who paid £40,000, and Northampton Town, making more than 300 Football League appearances.

He earned promotion to Division One with Blues and Division Two with Northampton, winning a play-off final against boss Jan Molby, then manager of Swansea City.

Keen to progress in the world of sports journalism off the field, Solihull-born Clarkson was thought to be playing just a bit part on the pitch this season.

But the experienced defender has stepped into the right-back position due to Parfait Medou-Otye's suspension and patchy form.

League appearances/goals: Birmingham (88/89) 9, (89/90) 20, (90/91) 37, (91/92) 42, (92/93) 28, Stoke (93/94) 14, (94/95) 18, (95/96) 43, Northampton (96/97) 45, (97/98) 42/1, (98/99) 5, (99/2000) 2, Harriers (00/01) 38.

This season: 20 games.

Status: First-choice right-back.