Derby-born Mitch made his professional debut in November 2008 as a late substitute in the 4-1 Carling Cup win at Brighton & Hove Albion - some two-and-a-half-years after first appearing on the senior scene.

The versatile youngster graduated from the Rams' Academy in the summer of 2007 and signed a two-year pro contract at the same time as his good friends Jason Beardsley and Miles Addison, who have also featured for the first-team.

Hanson earned England U18 recognition during his time as a scholar but he had made strides before that with reserve-team appearances while still a schoolboy in 2005.

His other taste of first-team life came in April 2006 when, as a first-year Academy scholar, he was an unused substitute for the trip to face Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

A defender by nature, at home either on the right or in the middle, he can also adapt to a holding midfield role and it was in that position he appeared at Brighton.

Hanson spent the final two months of 2007/08 on loan at Port Vale but injury ruined his chances of experiencing first-team football then.

But his big chance of regular senior action came in the last couple of months of 2008 with a loan spell at Notts County, and he celebrated his return to Pride Park with a new contract taking him up to the summer of 2011.