Powerful centre-half Jake arrived on a one-year contract in the summer of 2009 to be reunited with Nigel Clough.

It was Clough who had taken Buxton to Burton Albion 12 months previously and watched him cement his place as the top defender in the Blue Square Premier.

The Brewers went on to claim the BSP title at the end of the season with Buxton claiming their player of the year award.

Buxton was born in Sutton-in-Ashfield and came through the ranks at Mansfield Town, his local club, after winning the Stags' youth team player of the year award in 2002.

He made his debut later that year in a Football League Trophy game against Crewe Alexandra - as a late substitute after Rob Hulse had scored a hat-trick for the Alex - and went on to make 174 appearances for the Stags.

In 2006/07 he was named the Field Mill club's captain, becoming one of the youngest skippers in the country.

Clough snapped him up for Burton after Mansfield's relegation from League 2 and was rewarded with a series of commanding performances.

Buxton played over 40 games last season as the Brewers won promotion to the Football League for the first time in their history.

Clough believes Buxton has the potential to make the step up to the Championship and has given him the chance to prove himself.