The centre-back positions at the Walkers Stadium were among the most keenly-contested with the likes of Michael Morrison, Wayne Brown, Patrick Kisnorbo and Aleksandar Tunchev in the ranks.

But Hobbs rarely missed out and his parent club would have received some glowing reports from the City boss.

Hobbs had clinched his move to Liverpool after just three minutes of first-team action for Lincoln.

The Anfield club had been closely monitoring his progress and he joined in August 2005.

He made his full debut in a Carling Cup tie against Cardiff and his first Premier League appearance was as a second-half substitute in Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Bolton in December 2007.

In January 2008, he spent a period of time on loan at Scunthorpe.