RIGHT-BACK Tony signed professional forms for Boro in the summer of 2003 but his early career was hampered by a succession of injuries.

He captained Boro and played in all seven games during the 2004 FA Youth Cup-winning campaign and represented England U19s in the European Championships.

Tony showed he could step up to first team level in pre-season 2003-04 when he stood in to cover during friendlies and his reward was a dramatic debut at Old Trafford in October 2004, when he played his part in a creditable 1-1 draw in an injury-hit team.

He forced his way into the first team reckoning, during the 2004/05 season, with a series of highly impressive performances.

But his progress has been affected by a string of injury problems.

He suffered a knee cartilage problem in March 2005, a dislocated shoulder in August the same year, a medial problem in March 2006 and a broken leg in a Reserve game against Liverpool in October 2006. 

Tony spent a loan period at Blackpool in 2007/08 to help him regain fitness but his time at Bloomfield Road was cut short by a hamstring problem. He returned to Boro's first team squad as a substitute at Chelsea in March 2008.

He made just one senior appearance in 2007/08, as a substitute in the 8-1 win over Manchester City, but he signed a new one-year contract in summer 2008.

Tony spent a successful three-month loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday at the start of the 2008-09 season, playing under former Boro right-back Brian Laws at Hillsborough and making 15 appearances in a three-month stay.

He was determined to fight for his place back in Boro's first team squad and achieved that aim in the second half of the season, impressing as he made 15 appearances.

He signed a new three-year contract in April 2009, announcing his ambition to one day captain the team.