Republic of Ireland international Darron Gibson is an athletic midfielder who packs a powerful shot.

'Gibbo' has been in and around the first team for several seasons but it was in the 2008/09 campaign that he made a real breakthrough.

He scored his first goal for the seniors in the FA Cup win at Southampton in January 2009 and also played every game of the Reds' triumphant Carling Cup campaign, in which his composure and passing ability drew comparisons with Michael Carrick.

He was rewarded with a three-year contract extension in July 2009 and will be pushing

for regular first-team involvement in the coming seasons.

Darron made his first-team debut the day after his 18th birthday, as a second-half substitute in the Carling Cup victory over Barnet in October 2005.

Gibson was a regular fixture in United's reserves that season (2005/06), making 19 appearances and scoring two goals in a campaign that yielded three trophies.

Darron's development was furthered in 2006/07 by a loan spell at Royal Antwerp. Although initially hampered by a knee injury, the midfielder made a big impact in Belgium, helping Antwerp almost to