Islington-born Jay is a product of the Arsenal Academy. The 6’3” forward came through the youth ranks with the north London club before signing professionally in 1999.
He won The FA Youth Cup with the Gunners in 2000 but did not make a senior appearance ahead of his £1 million move to Coventry in the same year.
While at Arsenal, Jay was selected for England U16s, making his debut against Turkey, and went on to appear for the U18s, U20s and a solitary, goalscoring appearance for the Under-21s.
Domestically, he went on to play for Blackburn Rovers, Charlton Athletic, Wolves and Stoke, and even had a loan spell at Italian outfit Perugia, making 26 appearances and scoring four goals.
He joined Cardiff in 2008, scoring 12 goals in his first season with the Bluebirds and eleven in his second.
In the 2010-11 season Jay got off to a flying start, scoring 13 goals in 14 League appearances, and worked his way into Fabio Capello’s Senior squad to face France at Wembley.
