England U20 defender Matthew Briggs has vowed to make up for lost time after enduring a frustrating few years at Fulham.

The Wandsworth-born left-back became the youngest player in Premier League history when he made his first-team debut against Middlesbrough in May 2007 aged 16 years and 65 days.

He was touted as a rising star but a mixture of injuries, incoming players and managerial changes seemingly stunted his progress with the Cottagers.

As a result, the 20-year-old only made his second Fulham appearance in August 2010 but, despite the frustrations, Briggs insists the future is his only concern.

"It's true, things probably haven't gone as I thought they would," he told the club's official website.

"As a result, there were times when I didn't really feel part of things. Although I was in and around the senior squad, it's not until you get a regular run of games that you fully understand what it is like.

"But I do feel part of the set-up now - I feel like a professional footballer. Every player wants to be out there wearing the shirt of his team and I'm no different."