▁Well s , ▁Som erset . ▁He ▁started ▁his ▁career ▁in ▁the ▁youth ▁system ▁of ▁Br istol ▁City ▁and ▁was ▁offered ▁a ▁two - year ▁scholar ship ▁in ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 7 . ▁He ▁was ▁part ▁of ▁the ▁side ▁that ▁competed ▁in ▁the ▁Premier ▁Academy ▁League . ▁ ▁Club ▁career ▁ ▁Port sm outh ▁Wil kin son ▁was ▁released ▁early ▁from ▁his ▁contract ▁with ▁Br istol ▁City ▁at ▁the ▁age ▁of ▁ 1 7 ▁and ▁was ▁offered ▁a ▁trial ▁by ▁Premier ▁League ▁club ▁Port sm outh . ▁He ▁played ▁in ▁a ▁reserve ▁game ▁against ▁Ful ham , ▁in ▁which ▁first - team ▁manager ▁Paul ▁Hart ▁described ▁as ▁the ▁most ▁impress ive ▁debut ▁he ▁had ▁seen ▁from ▁any ▁young ▁player . ▁The ▁res erves ▁remained ▁un be aten ▁with ▁Wil kin son ▁in ▁defence ▁until ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁His ▁out standing ▁form ▁for ▁the ▁res erves ▁earned ▁him ▁a ▁professional ▁contract ▁in ▁July ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁ ▁In ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁he ▁joined ▁League ▁Two ▁club ▁North am pton ▁Town ▁on ▁a ▁one - month ▁loan , ▁however , ▁he ▁failed ▁to ▁make ▁an ▁appearance ▁for ▁the ▁club . ▁ ▁In ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁he ▁joined ▁Conference ▁South ▁club ▁East le igh ▁on ▁an ▁initial ▁one - month ▁loan , ▁which ▁was ▁later ▁extended ▁until ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁ ▁D agen ham ▁& ▁Red bridge ▁In ▁the ▁summer ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 0 ,