Aston Villa: The pictures fans have waited months to see
ASTON VILLA fans have been guessing for months just when they'd get to see summer signing Stewart Downing in action.
Few would have predicted he would have been on the bench for the trip to Burnley.
It was Downing's first appearance on the football field since breaking his foot in May while at Middlesbrough.
He subsequently moved to Villa for £12million.
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill accepts there is a long way to go until the 25-year-old rediscovers the form which made him a regular in the England squad, but he is just delighted to see the player back on the pitch.
"Just to get on the field of play is a very positive sign for him," said the Villa manager.
"It might still be a bit too early as, in terms of proper fitness, it will be hard for him at the moment because of the amount of football he has not played.
"I'll be the first to tell you he is not entirely fit but he has been desperate to be involved with us.
"He will benefit from that [run out] and he can only improve from there.
"He's a very decent player, he's played a number of times for England and he can play.
"But I think if he stays clear of injury we'll see the best of him from Christmas onwards."
Pictures by Tim Easthope
