var playerInfo={"SP0envY64LDpr7Uf2h3J3A==":"999","BjnowhAjQ28=":"5997","0hEutFH3ijg=":"1435","EWFE\/6zoLgw=":"94kg","SA8Yyc+z+AoR8ER81GLhMA==":"2","wk8KI86jRR7NT4EoTdH7sg==":"","4hDWgx2udsYR8ER81GLhMA==":"1979-5-17","qED7Img+ts8=":"188cm","9O+ddEW7u1Y=":"1","1njMuV+qKAMR8ER81GLhMA==":"","mdHnQVP4GjsK48urVFz68Q==":"Veria FC,\uc544\ub974\ub85c\ubbf8\ud1a0\uc2a4 FC,\ub3c8\uce90\uc2a4\ud130 \ub85c\ubc84\uc2a4,\uc0ac\uc6b0\uc0d8\ud504\ud134,\ubc88\ub9ac FC,\ud1a0\ub974\ud0a4 \uc720\ub098\uc774\ud2f0\ub4dc FC","9xjkpjFDzIpX0xCsFSyjXg==":"

Wayne will be hoping for better luck in his second season at Turf Moor after injury robbed him of much of his first campaign with the club.<\/P>

The strong and pacy defender became Steve Cotterill's third signing of the 2005 closed season when his contract expired at Championship rivals Stoke City <\/P>

It took a flying visit by Cotterill to Wayne's holiday base in Florida\u00a0to seal his signature ahead of a clutch of clubs and the player later admitted that shock visit\u00a0persuaded him to agree to join the club.<\/P>

However, disaster struck in August when the central defender suffered a cruciate knee injury at Reading. After initially being ruled out for the season he made a miracle return at Christmas, but needed a second operation to remove a\u00a0piece of troublesome cartilage early in 2006.<\/P>

A foot injury sustained at Stoke in March finally ended a jinxed campaign for the popular stopper, who has previously worked under Cotterill in the Potteries.<\/P>

Born in the west country, Wayne began his career in the south-west with Torquay United before joining Stoke for £200,000 in\u00a0the summer of 2000.<\/P>

He settled into life in the former Second Division and in only his second season at the Britannia Stadium helped the Potters to promotion to the Championship.<\/P>

Since then he has proved to be one of the top performers in the Championship. Capable of playing in the centre of defence or as a right-back, Wayne is renowned for his pace and strength and\u00a0will be praying injury steers well clear in the coming campaign.\u00a0<\/P>","63ETAKjVYI0=":"Wayne Thomas","Xi24sUcEvj0rkt07CHM4qg==":"Veria FC","f2+nnY5Zd9Y=":"\ud0ec\uc6cc\uc2a4 FC","LpP08oj6SrN\/X+OPM9rkLg==":"\uc789\uae00\ub79c\ub4dc","LYU6UM3risVX0xCsFSyjXg==":"","ZYBX7OfT8+0=":"Wayne Thomas","e_index":4}; var playerStats={"e_index":4};