Lewin Nyatanga is one of the shining examples of the success of the Derby County Academy.

Burton-born, a lifelong Derby fan, Nyatanga has come up through the ranks from schoolboy to full international football.

The central defender first came to prominence early in 2005 when, at 16, he became the youngest-ever Wales U21 player.

He qualifies to play for Wales through his mother and followed that up by becoming the youngest-ever skipper before he turned 17 in August that year.

Nyatanga's 17th birthday was one to remember as he signed his first professional contract with Derby and his senior debut wasn't too far away either - a full outing in the Carling Cup against Grimsby Town.

Championship football soon followed, he scored the winning goal on only his second start, and in March 2006 he became the youngest-ever full Wales international.

Then came the inaugural Football League Championship Apprentice of the Year award and though his senior Welsh record has since been passed, Nyatanga is a regular member of John Toshack's defence.

He capped his debut campaign with Derby by taking home the young player of the year award but featured less in 2006/07 than he would have hoped.

The Welsh young player of the year award came his way in October 2006 but he then joined Sunderland on loan until the end of the year, before heading to Barnsley for a two-month spell in February.

Injuries and suspensions meant Nyatanga was recalled to Derby in April and he marked his return to the side in some style by scoring the only goal in the 1-0 win over Luton Town on April 20.

That was his first appearance in a Rams shirt since the Carling Cup exit at Doncaster Rovers some seven months previously.

Nyatanga, who signed a new four-year contract in the summer of 2007, went back out on loan to Barnsley again at the start of this season and played a further 27 times for the Coca-Cola Championship side before returning on January 1.

And he was back in the Derby side with a bang on January 19 when he was recalled for the trip to Portsmouth - his first Premier League game - and responded with a goal inside four minutes.

He remained in the side for the next two matches but was sent off against Preston in the FA Cup before moving out on loan to Barnsley again - this time on a 93-day emergency loan.

Nyatanga proved a popular and successful figure in South Yorkshire but wasn't able to feature in the Tykes' run to the semi-final of the FA Cup due to being cup-tied after featuring in the competition for Derby.

His loan at Oakwell expired the week before the end of the Premier League season and he was back in Derby's line-up for their last top-flight game, at home to Reading.

A knee injury interrupted his progress ahead of 2008/09 but he battled back to fitness and has been a regular in the squad throughout the season.

He registered his sole strike of the campaign with a sweeping low finish in February's 3-1 win at Nottingham Forest in the Coca-Cola Championship.