'CLEM' is currently Albion's longest-serving player and penned a five-and-a-half year deal in January 2005.

He became the first-ever Baggies player to win three promotions with the club when he ended an otherwise frustrating 2007/08 season by guiding Albion over the final hurdle to the Championship crown.

After starting the opening game of the campaign at Burnley, Clement's persistent knee troubles continued to a point where he considered retiring from the game.

But he battled back and, following a successful month-long loan spell at Hull City, he was recalled to The Hawthorns by Tony Mowbray and brought stability to the Baggies backline in a seven-match unbeaten league run.

He also deservedly  won a place in the club's starting XI for their narrow 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Portsmouth at Wembley.

Clement's involvement in the 2006/07 campaign was delayed until December by his recovery from a long-term knee injury suffered at the end of the previous campaign, which required surgery.

But he soon won his place back at the heart of the Baggies defence, once-again forming a solid partnership with Curtis Davies which went a long way to cementing Albion's place in the play-offs.

After struggling to break into Chelsea's first team, Clement joined Albion in a £100,000 move in the summer of 2000.

He earned his permanent Hawthorns deal by helping the club avoid relegation to League One during a successful loan spell at the end of the 1999/2000 campaign.

Clement started his Albion career as a left-sided centre-half in a back three and proved an instant hit, winning the club's Player-of-the-Year Award in his first full season in 2000/01.

He moved to left wing-back during 2001/02 and helped Albion end their 16-year top-flight exile by winning promotion to the Premiership for the first time.

Clement's strong tackling, adventurous nature and eye for goal from set-plays also earned him a place in the Division One PFA XI that season.

After figuring regularly during Albion's failed attempt to preserve their Premiership status the following term, he suffered the first real setback of his Baggies career in 2003/04 when he lost his position as first-choice left-back to new recruit Paul Robinson.

However, he underlined his versatility that season by serving in midfield, at centre-half and even at centre-forward on occasion as Albion immediately won promotion back to the top flight.

Clement played a key role in Albion's Great Escape during 2004/05. He got his chance at centre-half midway through the term and forged a solid partnership with Thomas Gaardsoe as Albion became the first team bottom of the Premiership at Christmas to avoid the drop.

As vice-captain during 2005/06, he skippered Albion on several occasions in the absence of Kevin Campbell, partnering new boy Davies at the heart of the Baggies defence for a large chunk of the term.

(UPDATED ON JULY 23, 2008)