Phillip Bardsley Bio Send To Friend  

Bardsley joined Sunderland from Manchester United for a fee of £2million in January 2008 as the Black Cats battled against relegation in their first season back in the Premier League.

The tough tackling full-back, who can also play at centre-back, helped shore up Sunderland's leaky defence during the second-half of the season before suffering a knee injury that ruled him out for the last four games of the season.

Despite making his debut at Manchester United in 2003 it was not until the 2005/06 season that Bardsley really emerged, playing as a replacement for the injured Gary Neville.

He made seven Premiership appearances during that period and earned a new, improved contract to run until the summer of 2009.

He was part of the FA Youth Cup winning side of 2002/03

Like so many of United's youngsters he loaned to Belgian side Royal Antwerp in January 2004, after having played in United's 3-0 FA Cup win at Northampton Town as a substitute.

Back at United, he came into the side at half-time in the Champions League qualifier against Debrecen in August following the injury to Neville.

With Neville back to full fitness, Bardsley was loaned to Burnley in March 2005 to build up his first team experience.

He played in pre-season for United, but was released on loan to join Scottish club Rangers for the 2006-2007 campaign.

Things quickly turned sour for Bardsley at Ibrox, after he found himself suspended by new manager Paul Le Guen from the Gers Uefa Cup trip to Livorno, following a heavy training ground challenge on a team-mate in October.

Upon his return to Untied Bardsley was not able to break into the first team squad and went on loan to Aston Villa in January 2007. However, Martin O'Neill chose not to make the deal permanently and he returned to Old Trafford in the summer of that year.

A 16 games loan spell at Sheffield United followed at the start of the 2007/08 season before Sunderland swoop offer Bardsley a three-and-a-half-year contract at the Stadium of Light.