Hayden Mullins Bio Send To Friend  

The combative midfielder signed a long term deal, but has been dogged by a lack of consistency in his game.

The versatile player had been a fine servant for Crystal Palace at the start of his career. And he had moved to East London having been named Palace's Player of the Year for 2002/03.

He made his debut for Palace in the InterToto Cup against Samsonspor at the start of the 1998/99 season.

The former England Under-21 international then went on to make 256 appearances for the Eagles before opting to move to Upton Park in October 2003. Initially moving on loan, he sealed a permanent switch for an undisclosed fee a couple of days later.

He emerged as a promising central defensive prospect but has since acted as more of a utility player.

Many of his appearances for West Ham have been in the full-back role, but he has operated in various positions in the side. Left-back, right wing and central midfield.

Gaining recognition for an impressive 2005/06 season, Mullins missed the FA Cup final against Liverpool after being sent off in the clubs' Premiership clash.

With the arrival of Argentine international Javier Mascherano, Mullins' days at the club looked numbered. However, with the Argentine failing to impress, Mullins re-established himself in the side and was hugely important in keeping the Hammers in the top flight in 2006/07.

After West Ham tried to include him in a swap deal for Charlton's Darren Bent in the summer of 2007 he again faced speculation over his future, but he shrugged it off to feature in 34 of West Ham's 38 Premier League games in 2007/08 - underlining the player's determination to prove his worth.

2008/09 saw him again linked with a move and, after starting only five games, he moved on to Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee in January.