James Milner happy with new Villa middle role

Dec 7 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

JAMES Milner is thriving on being a central character for Villa after inspiring Martin O’Neill’s Champions League hopefuls to victory over Hull in his new role in the middle of the park.

Milner capped a man-of-the-match display with a brilliant goal and a fine assist as he ran the show from the claret and blue engine room during Saturday’s 3-0 stroll against the Tigers.

“Wherever the manager asks me to play, I’ll play,” said Milner.

“I’m obviously happier in the front six positions but if he asks me to play full-back, I’ll play there.

“Hopefully I can contribute to the team by scoring and creating goals.

“I’ve played there for Leeds once or twice and Newcastle. It takes time to get a relationship and learn how to play with Stiliyan Petrov.

“You are a partnership and working together. If the manager decides to keep it that way, I am happy playing there.

“I enjoy it and you can get involved in the game. Sometimes, if you are out wide, you are waiting for other people to bring you into the game and you have to keep your discipline and keep your width.

“In the middle, you can get involved, get the ball and start things yourself.

“As long as I’m playing and contributing to the team through scoring more goals, which I want to do, or creating goals, I’m happy.

“The big one this season was to try and score a few more goals and hopefully I can do that and get that tally a bit higher.”

Despite shrugging off comparisons to former Villa favourite Gareth Barry, Milner admits that he has picked up tips from the departed central midfielder and other England stars on international duty. But Milner is not concerned that his recent change of position will put him in direct competition with Barry, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard and make it harder to get into Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad

“You’ve got to learn all the time when you are playing with top players and ‘G’ was a top player and in the England squad you’ve got Lampard and Gerrard,” he said.

“There aren’t too many better players in the world to learn off than them so it is making sure you take advantage of the players you are playing with and the staff you are working with.

“With England, it is not just about going there. I think you’ve got to watch what other people do and take the best parts out of their games and hopefully put it into your own.

“I’m just concentrating on my football for Aston Villa and wherever I play, I’m happy playing.

“That is what ultimately gets you in the England squad and I’ll just keep working as hard as I can and keep improving and, whether it is wide or in the middle, I’m happy anyway.”

Villa boss O’Neill is delighted that he has been able to accommodate Milner, Ashley Young and Stewart Downing in the same team following the latter’s long-awaited return from injury.

“I always felt there was room in the side for all of them and it would maybe give us a bit of fluidity,” said O’Neill.

“So far it has proved okay. We will have to adjust a little, but it is nice to have players who are comfortable with the ball.”