Potters skipper Andy Griffin became the first player to answer our new 'Top 10' last week and we've followed it up by meeting with his opposite full-back Higginbotham, who was captain himself at Stoke not much more than a year ago.

The 29-year-old started his career with local side and boyhood heroes Manchester United, coming through the famous ranks at Old Trafford before making his debut as a 19-year-old in a Premier League win at Barnsley in 1998.

He made four appearances in all for the Red Devils but could not establish himself in Sir Alex Ferguson's side and instead became the first of United's youngsters to make the now-customary loan move to Belgian side Royal Antwerp.

He was controversially banned for four months for allegedly attacking a referee with fellow United loanee Ronnie Wallwork, but his time abroad was largely a success and he did enough in his 36 appearances to attract interest from some of United's Premier League rivals.

He eventually made a £2million move to Derby County in 2000 and was a regular in his first season at Pride Park as he helped the club maintain their top-flight status.

The following season was less succcessful as the Rams were relegated but Higginbotham was named the fans' Player of the Year and it was widely expected he would not leave the Premier League with his team-mates.

He did actually spend the first half of the next campaign in what is now the Championship with Derby, but it was little surprise when he returned to the top division with Southampton in January 2003. He initially joined the Saints on loan until the end of the season, but the move was made permanent in February for a fee of £1.5million.

Higginbotham didn't establish himself immediately as a regular in the Southampton side but he was involved in their FA Cup final against Arsenal, although he never got off the bench.

The defender was more involved the next season at St Mary's, even appearing in the UEFA Cup against Espanyol, but he suffered relegation once again in 2004/05 as a last-day defeat to his former club Manchester United ended Saints' 27-year stay in the top flight.

Higginbotham remained with the club in the Championship the following season but was placed on the transfer list in the summer after rejecting the offer of a new contract.

He went on to join Stoke for an initial £225,000 and soon established himself in City's defence. He started the season at left-back but was moved into the middle to partner Michael Duberry and played a big part in helping the club to the best defensive record in the league that season.

He took over the armband when Duberry left for Reading in February 2007 but could not quite lead the Potters into the Premier League as they just missed out on a play-off spot on the last day.

Higginbotham was not to be denied a promotion, though, and after a summer of speculation linking him to Sunderland he eventually made a £2.5million move at the end of August 2007 despite starting Stoke's first game of the season at Cardiff.

His career on Wearside began well as he put in a man of the match display at Old Trafford in his third start for the club, and then endeared himself to supporters with the opening goal in a 1-1 draw at arch-rivals Newcastle.

Sunderland comfortably avoided relegation in their first season back in the Premier League but Roy Keane splashed the cash in the summer just gone and it started to become clear that Higginbotham could become surplus to requirements.

The return of George McCartney confirmed it and on transfer deadline day Higginbotham returned to the Britannia Stadium for £2.5million.

He has quickly made the left-back slot his own and starred in a 0-0 draw at Anfield two weeks ago.

Here are his answers to TEAMtalk's Top 10:

What club did you support growing up? Manchester United because all my family supported them and they were my local team.

What's been the highlight of your career so far? Probably going to the FA Cup final with Southampton or then playing in the UEFA Cup.

Which team do you want to beat more than any other this season? There's not one particular team to be honest.

If you could have dinner with any one person, dead or alive, who would it be? That's a tough one, can I come back to that one? (Note from the editor: Homzy is stupid and forgot to ask him again!)

If you weren't a footballer then what would you be? Probably a fireman.

What's the best prank you've ever played or had played on you? When I was a young lad at United one of the second year apprentices had bought some new aftershave with the money that he'd taken from his apprentice wage. Anyway all the young lads used it because one of the other second years said we could, and then we filled it back up with pee and watched him spray himself with it.

Who's your worst dressed team-mate? That would be Ricardo Fuller. I needed to break Simmo's hoodoo.

And who's the hardest? There's a few lads you wouldn't want to get into a scrap with, but Ricardo because he loses it sometimes.

Who's the best player you've ever played with? It would have to be Stefano Eranio who I played with at Derby; he was unbelievable.

And who's the least skillful player you've ever played with?! How do you expect me to answer that one?! I'll say Rory Delap because he's only got his throws and that's it!