Ben Alnwick joined the Hatters on a three-month loan spell from Tottenham Hotspur at the end of September. Alnwick, 20, made a name for himself during Sunderland's Football League Championship-winning season, replacing the injured Thomas Myhre for the Black Cats last three games of the season.

He became a big favourite at the Stadium of Light and in November 2005, he enjoyed a stint as the number one goalkeeper at Sunderland, replacing former Hatter Kelvin Davis.

However, in January 2006, Alnwick joined Tottenham Hotspur for £900,000 in a deal that could rise to £1.3m.

Meanwhile, Alnwick received his first call-up to the England Under-21 squad in August 2006 match against Moldova and was named in the first England U21 squad to play at the New Wembley against Italy U21's on March 24 2007, but he remained and un-used sub. Alnwick was also named in England's Under-21 squad for the European Championships in Holland.