[1] During his career Thompson played for Liverpool, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Wigan Athletic, Portsmouth and Bolton Wanderers.

His good form at Swindon led him to be selected more frequently for Liverpool, these performances paying off as he scored the winning goal against Crystal Palace later in the season.

His rise in division and impressive start gave him immediate international recognition, as Sven-Göran Eriksson named him in the England squads against Slovakia and Macedonia in October,[2] although ultimately he was never capped for the senior side.

[3] Three separate bouts of surgery failed to provide a permanent solution as, despite a muscle strengthening programme directed by Bayern Munich doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, the injuries persisted during his comebacks.

His form was excellent for Wigan, scoring two goals and recording five assists in 10 games, helping them to their highest ever Premier League finish.