Craig Gardner’s tribute to Martin O'Neill over new Aston Villa deal

Sep 17 2008 From Nick Davis, in Bulgaria

VILLA midfielder Craig Gardner today paid tribute to his manager after signing a new four-year deal at the club he has supported all his life.

The Birmingham-born youngster put pen to paper on a contract, which will keep him at Villa until 2012, and immediately thanked manager Martin O’Neill for rewarding his loyalty.

The England Under-21 international grew up supporting Villa, despite being raised in Yardley – an area of Birmingham which is predominantly a Blues stronghold.

After leaving Cockshut Hill School, Gardner joined the Villa youth academy and insists he hasn’t looked back.

He is delighted his loyalty has now been repaid as he becomes the latest in a line of Villa stars to be given contract extensions, including Stiliyan Petrov and Gabby Agbonlahor.

Gardner said: “I was thrilled to get the offer of this new deal and, to be fair, the manager has really looked after me.

“I’ve been at Aston Villa since I was a youngster and I’m thrilled to be securing my future with the club.

“It is great to secure this deal now and it means I can just get my head down and focus on my game.”

Although Gardner has had to face fresh competition for his place in midfield this season with the arrivals of James Milner and Steve Sidwell – and Villa now have a regular right-back in Luke Young – he says he relishes the competition.

“Anyone who knows me will know I don’t mind competition. It is good for the team and it keeps me on my toes,’’ he added.

“I have always said I will play anywhere the manager wants me to, even in goal if it would help the team, so I’m thrilled my future has been secured.”

Gardner was among the Villa squad who flew to Bulgaria last night ahead of tomorrow’s UEFA Cup first-round clash with Litex Lovech.

The only omission on the three-and-a-half-hour flight to Gorna in Northern Bulgaria before the transfer to Lovech and the team hotel was striker John Carew, who picked up an ankle injury on Monday night in Villa’s 2-1 win at Spurs.

A Villa spokesman confirmed last night Carew was only suffering from a slight sprain and had been left at home as a precaution so he could rest and prepare ahead of Sunday’s Premier League derby with Albion.

Gardner said: “We’ve a lot of games now back-to-back and it is vital we have a big squad to cope with that.

‘‘I am sure my time will come but until then I’m just going to try and keep impressing the manager in training and whenever I get the chance to play.

“I am relishing the opportunity.”

The 21-year-old added: “It is fantastic now that Villa are in Europe and we plan to make the most of this opportunity and go all the way in the UEFA Cup.

“I really believe we can make some great strides in the competition this year and these are the sort of trips you relish as a youngster.’’