Steve Sidwell desperate to grab starting spot at Aston Villa

Jul 23 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

VILLA Park is more like Little England these days but Steve Sidwell’s focus is firmly on the one lion of his club rather than the Three Lions of his country.

More than half-a-dozen of Martin O’Neill’s squad could be forgiven for lying back and thinking of England in the run-up to next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Gabby Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Emile Heskey, James Milner and new signing Stewart Downing have strong chances of being in Fabio Capello’s squad, while Curtis Davies and Luke Young are outside contenders.

But Sidwell accepts that for him it is more important to impress O’Neill than Capello in the forthcoming season after admitting he is desperate to kick-start his claret and blue career.

“A lot of English players will be a lot of people looking at it with one eye on the World Cup,” said Sidwell.

“But that’s miles down the road as far as I’m concerned. I need to try and cement a starting spot with Villa.

“It’s going to be a big season for everyone but particularly for us at Villa because we have to get over the loss of Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry and try to kick on. So the challenge is there for us all.

“The England manager has been to watch us on a few occasions. Villa are a high-profile club. It did wonders for Gareth. If you have a good season, you don’t know where it’s going to take you.

“But, like I say, that’s way down the line. As far as I’m concerned, it’s get into the Villa side first. And then stay there.

“Everything else can take care of itself after that.”