Downing: It’s been one hell of a journey at Aston Villa

Jan 24 2010 by Andy Walker, Sunday Mercury

Aston Villa star Stewart Downing has reflected on the eight-month journey that has taken him from being a relegation battler to a big stage performer.

Thoughts of Wembley have been brushed aside for the time being, as Villa return to their top priority of achieving the unthinkable and cracking the Premier League’s top four.

And Martin O’Neill’s men will have the chance to get right back on track with that ambitious aim when they host table-topping Arsenal on Wednesday evening.

Like the rest of Villa’s talented crop, Downing is thriving in the spotlight of playing for a silverware-chasing side. A Carling Cup final is already booked and an outside chance of gracing next season’s Champions League remains alive.

That position is a far cry from where the winger found himself last May.

Despite being classed as an England international, Downing was fighting a losing battle to keep his boyhood club Middlesbrough in the top flight before suffering a further blow in the form of a fractured metatarsal in his right foot.

Now as he sits on the brink of chalking up his most successful season to date, and Villa’s first piece of major silverware for 14 years, Downing is able to reflect on the summer move that turned his career around.

“There is a little bit of difference in the emotions from last season compared to this season,” said the 25-year-old.

“Obviously last year was a tough year but I did have some great times in cups and stuff with Middlesbrough.

“The pleasing thing for me is that I came to Villa to play in Europe and to get to big finals, the Carling Cup final is something to look forward to and the lads can’t wait.

“It’s been good for me to come back in again into a confident team with really good players around me, it’s helped me more that we’re on a good run because it allows you to settle into the team quickly.

“You can sense the confidence around the team and hopefully getting into a final will kick us on because we’ve got some big, big games coming up.”