England Archive

Four Villa Players could feature for England…

Four Villa Players could feature for England…

Four Aston Villa players could be in-line to feature at some point in tonight’s International friendly between England and Egypt at Wembley Stadium.

England regular Emile Heskey is the most likely to start out of the four, as he is a favourite of Wapello’s and is most likely to start alongside Wayne Rooney.

James Milner is also in with a big chance of starting. He’s gone from strength to strength this season, from being a World Cup hopeful to a certainty on the plane for next summer’s World Cup in South Africa.

Stephen Warnock will do battle with Everton full back Leighton Baines after Wayne Bridge ruled himself out last week and Ashley Coles injury.

And then finally there’s the return to the International fold for Stewart Downing. He was out with a broken leg and this is the first time he could return to the setup. I personally believe he’s least likely to play because I still think he’s capable of so much more at Villa – but then again Fabio Capello has made no secret of how much he rates the winger.

This is how tonight’s line-up could look like if he picked all four to start:

Joe Hart

Stephen Warnock – John Terry – Matthew Upson – Wesley Brown

Stewart Downing – Steven Gerrard – Frank Lampard – James Milner

Wayne Rooney – Emile Heskey

Delph and Delfouneso get U-21 call up.

Delph and Delfouneso get U-21 call up.

Fabien Delph and Nathan Delfouneso both got called up to Stuart Pearce’s England U-21 side to play Greece in Doncaster’s Keepmoat Stadium.

Delfouneso will get his first opportunity to represent his country at this level after being promoted from the U-19 setup.

Stuart Pearce stated: “We just felt that Nathan has got a great commodity in his pace. I’ve seen him play for the Under-19s and he can also play out wide as well as down the middle”

Nathan Delfouneso’s profile seems to be getting bigger and bigger as this season progresses.

The story so far.. James Milner

The story so far.. James Milner

Just under eighteen months ago James Milner had signed for Aston Villa and was making his second debut for the club against Liverpool.

In the 18 months hes gone from warming up the bench to possibly the first name on Martin O’Neill’s teamsheet. The yorkshireman has made such a impact in his short time at Villa park he is now virtually a dead cert to be boarding the plane to this summers World Cup in South Africa.

On his 23rd birthday, Villa played Gillingham in the FA Cup third Round at the Priestfield. The midfielder managed to score both goals that day in a 2-1 victory for the Villans.

He also went on to score his first premier league goal against Sunderland in January 2009, at the Stadium of Light. Milner headed home a Ashley Young cross to equalise for Villa that day in a game they went on to win 2-1.

It was February 7th when supporters from across the country started to sit up and take notice of this young talent. Fabio Capello named Milner in his England squad.

However it wasn’t until August 2009 when he made his first team international debut, when he came of the bench for 23 minutes against Holland. He made such a impact in that time that he set up a goal for Jermaine Defoe which gave England a share of the spoils that day as the game ended 2-2.

Milner, was originally a wide man but in the 2009/10 season he has been moved into the centre of the midfield and now some compare him to Chelsea star Frank Lampard.

His workrate is second to none and one thing you can guarentee about James Milner, is he will always give 100%.

When he signed many questions his big price tag, however if you ask any Villa fans right now im sure they would agree with me that his pricetag was just a snippet of what hes worth now and it would take a lot for any club to prize him away from Aston Villa.

Its amazing what 18 months can do, lets hope we see James Milner playing in a Villa shirt for the next 8-10 years.

So remember, Theres only one Jimmy Milner!

Youth Watch: Nathan Delfouneso

Youth Watch: Nathan Delfouneso

With two FA Cup goals to his name, people are starting to sit up and take notice of Nathan Delfouneso, and ask the question, is he the next graduate from Villa’s Youth setup?

His name has been around for the past 2-3 seasons now, and weve all heard about him breaking youth and reserve scoring records but so did Luke Moore and Darrius Vassell and look where they both are now.

The 18 year old has represented England at U-16, U-17 and U-19 levels scoring a combined total of 18 goals in 32 appearances.

Delfouneso, wears the number 14 shirt, something he was given in 2008 when he signed his first professional contract and a French Magazine claimed it was due for the strikers admiration for then Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

He then became the youngest player to represent Aston Villa in europe at the age of 17 years and 195 days when he came of the bench in a Uefa Cup second round match against FH Hafnarfjörður of Iceland.

Nathan went on to make his first first team start on the 4th January 2009, in a FA Cup tie against Gillingham in which Villa won 2-1. He soon scored his first professional goal against Doncaster Rovers, also in the FA Cup that same season.

A lot is expected of this young lad, and a lot of people forget that hes still only 18. At the end of last season he was voted both Aston Villa Players Young Player of the Season and Fans Player of the Season.

The 2009-10 season as sore him score his fifth and sixth goals for the club against Blackburn and Brighton, once again both in the FA Cup.

Nathan Delfouneso, is a player who in my opinion will make a massive impact in the future on the Premier League and with the big English contingent at the club already, there is no reason why one day he can’t be representing his national side at the highest level.

I hear you ask why he wont be just another Luke Moore, well the reason i say this is because he isnt just being thrown into the big time. Martin O’Neill use’s him sporadically and won’t rush him into anything hes not ready for.

Milner to get pay rise.

Milner to get pay rise.

Reports in the News of the World are today reporting that England international and my player of the season so far James Milner will be getting a pay rise for his top form so far this season and to fend any interest of from other clubs.

The winger is currently on around 40,000 a week in wages at the moment with 2 years remaining on his deal that runs out in 2012. However, Villa are expected to offer him a new three year extension reportedly worth around 75,000 a week.

Jimmy, as had a wonderful season so far, making his debut back at the start of the season for England in a friendly against Holland and a string of fine performances in the league for Villa including in wins against Liverpool at Anfield and Man United at Old Trafford.

If you read the article it goes on to talk about his ‘reprasentatives’, which then makes me wonder how much truth is in this story as i am lead to believe that James Milner has always negotiated his own deals with no advice.

Theres no doubt that he should be the clubs highest paid player, specially seeing as he is the clubs best player. Negotiations are expected in early February so we will soon find out.

On another note, with the majority of the Premier League getting called off yesterday, weather reports now expect around 10cm of snow in the Midlands over the next 2-3 days so keep your ears open about the game at Blackburn on Thursday night.