Yet another player with Preston connections, Claude joined the Lilywhites in July 2003, initially on loan for the 2003-04 season[3] before signing a permanent deal in March 2004.

Over the next two seasons, he established himself as one of the mainstays of Preston's defence and won both the Players' Player of the Year and Fans' Player of the Year awards at the end of the 2005/6 season.

In June 2006, he became Sheffield Utd's record signing with a £2.5million move to Bramall Lane. However, he missed the start o the 2006/7 season with a knee cartilage injury which he picked up in a pre-season friendly against Notts Co. Later in the season though, he turned in some sound performances none more so than the last game of the season relegation decider against Wigan Athletic.

He joined the Rams for £3million in July 2007 after a successful appeal against his work permit initially being refused, as Billy Davies strengthened his defensive lineup in preparation for the battle for Premiership survival ahead.

Rating: 3/10

Photo: Action Images

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