Bannan: I want to fill Gareth Barry's boots at Aston Villa

Jul 3 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

“Nigel Clough is looking to get me back but I want to stay at Villa and push on this year.

“Gareth Barry has left and I feel I have as good enough a chance of filling in as anyone there now, so I just have to wait and see the manager.

“He has not bought anyone in yet, so it looks good for me at the minute. I’m not 20 until December. There is still a long way ahead of me but this is a big season because it is my last year.

“I’ve got to try to do what I can to get a contract. I’m looking forward to getting back into pre-season, working hard and hopefully getting into the squad.”

The Scotland under-21 international made his debut as a substitute for Villa in December against Hamburg and started the away leg of the UEFA Cup game against CSKA Moscow in February.

Bannan was again part of Villa’s Hong Kong Sevens squad at the end of May.

He helped two-time defending champions Villa to a semi-final spot where they were defeated by Glasgow Rangers.

“We had a younger team this year but we did really well. We should have won it but lost to Rangers,” he added.

Celtic beat Rangers in the final to at least give Bannan, his father is a lifelong fan, something to smile about.

Bannan was last season a major element of Villa winning the Barclays Premier Reserve League South and was part of the team that beat Sunderland, crowning them as outright reserve champions.