Liam Ridgewell is fighting fit again after suffering a knee injury in pre-season and is hoping to make his mark in Villa's first team. The 20-year-old centre half made a big impression on the Holte End at the end of last season with a string of composed performances against top class opposition. And he looked set to challenge Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen for a stopper's role until he suffered knee ligament trouble during pre-season. His brief substitute appearance during a 0-0 draw with Orgryte was marred after he picked up an injury that put his career on hold. However, he has now had a spate of reserve team games and made his comeback during Villa's 3-1 Carling Cup defeat at Burnley last week. And the England Under 21 international told Ian Clarkson how he couldn't wait for the real action to start again.
Q:THIS WASN'T THE FIRST INJURY YOU HAD SUFFERED WAS IT?
A:I had a hairline fracture of my leg at West Ham and that left me at a low ebb. But it helped me this time round because I knew how to deal with the ups and downs. However, it is still hard to take and you need to have people there to help you deal with it. My knee has withstood everything that has been asked of it. As long as my knee is right then I want to give the gaffer a huge headache every week over team selection.
Q:YOU PLAYED AGAINST SOME TOP STRIKERS LAST SEASON - WAS THAT A GOOD EXPERIENCE?
A:It was a really good test playing against those kinds of players. You can only improve playing against top class opponents like Ruud van Nistelrooy and that is what I want to be doing week in and week out. I am looking to pin down a place in the first team and hopefully, by the end of the season, I can achieve what I did at the end of last and play a few games. Getting on the bench would be a good start and my ultimate aim is to try and be in the team every week.
Q:YOU STARTED AT WEST HAM, HAD A LOAN SPELL AT BOURNEMOUTH AND PLAYED FOR ENGLAND UNDER 21s - WOULD YOU LIKE TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF ANOTHER CENTRE HALF WHO DID THAT…RIO FERDINAND?
A:I would love to achieve half of what Rio has achieved. He was just breaking into the West Ham first team when I was there and everyone can see what a great player he is. I look up to him and I saw at first hand how much quality he has got. He was a midfielder at one point, but they moved him back to centre-half and he broke into the first team soon after that. I was just leaving for Villa when he, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick were making their mark.
Q:HOW GOOD AN EXPERIENCE WAS IT TO PLAY FOR YOUR COUNTRY AT YOUTH LEVELS?
A:I was lucky enough to play alongside Wayne Rooney for the Under 19s and he's not a bad player, is he! He has gone on to bigger and better things and it is good to see young players going on and taking their chance with England. It was great playing against Holland and Sweden with the Under 21s last year because it gives you great experience of playing against different countries and a different style of player from those you are normally faced with.
Q:I TAKE IT YOU WOULD LIKE TO GO AND GET FULL HONOURS IF POSSIBLE?
A:You want to get international honours and playing for the Under 21s was fantastic. You receive good recognition and a chance to play all over the world. It has happened to Peter Whittingham as well, and seeing young players in England's squad has shown what is possible. It is definitely an ambition of mine.
Q:VILLA SEEMS TO BE AN IDEAL CLUB FOR NURTURING YOUNG TALENT?
A:There always seem to be a lot of young players breaking through at Villa and that was one of the reasons why I signed. Hopefully I can keep that record going.
