Wayne will be hoping for better luck in his second season at Turf Moor after injury robbed him of much of his first campaign with the club.

The strong and pacy defender became Steve Cotterill's third signing of the 2005 closed season when his contract expired at Championship rivals Stoke City

It took a flying visit by Cotterill to Wayne's holiday base in Florida to seal his signature ahead of a clutch of clubs and the player later admitted that shock visit persuaded him to agree to join the club.

However, disaster struck in August when the central defender suffered a cruciate knee injury at Reading. After initially being ruled out for the season he made a miracle return at Christmas, but needed a second operation to remove a piece of troublesome cartilage early in 2006.

A foot injury sustained at Stoke in March finally ended a jinxed campaign for the popular stopper, who has previously worked under Cotterill in the Potteries.

Born in the west country, Wayne began his career in the south-west with Torquay United before joining Stoke for £200,000 in the summer of 2000.

He settled into life in the former Second Division and in only his second season at the Britannia Stadium helped the Potters to promotion to the Championship.

Since then he has proved to be one of the top performers in the Championship. Capable of playing in the centre of defence or as a right-back, Wayne is renowned for his pace and strength and will be praying injury steers well clear in the coming campaign.