Brown's bid to become a regular for both club and country has constantly been dogged by injuries, although he remains one of the best squad players in the top flight. The versatile defender signed as a Manchester United professional in 1996 and received his first England cap against Hungary in Budapest in 1999.

He was part of the United squad who won the Treble in 1998-99, however, his injury jinx began the following year when a training ground cruciate ligament knee injury meant that he missed the entire 1999-00 season. He played possibly his best football in 2002-03, but again suffered a cruciate injury. He managed a full season in 2007-08, playing 47 games as United took the Premier League and Champions League double but the following campaign was once again wrecked ravaged by injury.

His fitness issues have also affected him at international level. As relative youngster he booked a place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad for World Cup 2002, although he spent his time on the bench, but a lack of playing time in 2005-06 meant he missed out on a place on the plane to Germany. New England manager Fabio Capello started the defender in his first two games in charge, but further problems in the 2009-10 season meant he was overlooked once again for the World Cup in South Africa.

The arrival of Chris Smalling and a reported fall-out with Sir Alex Ferguson saw his first-team opportunities restricted further in 2010-11 and after disappointingly missing out on a sixth Premier League winners' medal - he only played seven league games - Brown ended his 19-year association with United by signing for Sunderland in a £1 million deal.

Strengths: Tough tackling defender, who is calm in possession and can play at right-back or centre-back.

Weaknesses: Injury-prone; not as skilful going forward as some other right-backs.

Career high: Winning an historic Treble with Manchester United in 1999.

Career low: Picking up knee-knack for the first time in 2000; an injury that has blighted his career ever since.

Style: Loves a 50-50 challenge. Almost of the old school 'man and ball' approach.

Quotes: "If Wes stays fit, we are in business because he is a fantastic defender. His timing and reading of situations is fantastic. He is quick to get to the ball. You have to hope he gets the kind of luck he deserves because, when you look at his injury record, it is not a good one." Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, July 2009.

Trivia: For his wedding to Leanne Wassell in June 2009 the United defender wore a pair of £400 Edwards 1830 shoes made from the skin of a stingray. Only nine pairs have ever been made and Brown snapped up seven pairs; for himself, best man and ushers.