Ex-Aston Villa star Thomas Hitzlsperger takes pride in first win over Birmingham City

Jul 23 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

Mobbed afterwards by autograph hunters, he happily broke away before getting on the team bus to speak to the Birmingham Mail.

“Bill Howell (our man at Villa) sent a text to say you would be here,” he greeted me, with another smile.

“It was funny for me playing Birmingham again.

“I still keep in touch with a few of the Villa lads. I’ve still got good memories, I had a fantastic time there.

“I do miss it at times but fortunately Stuttgart is a very good club and I have enjoyed it here so much.

“It was nice to see some of the people from my time at Villa, like Keith Fahey, I spoke to him.

“Roy Aitken as well. It was a shame not to see Liam Ridgewell but he’s got his broken leg and I hope he recovers well.”

Hitzlsperger’s claret and blue loyalty was obvious when I asked him what he made of Blues.

“Well I hope Villa do well this season,” he laughed. “Will Blues survive in the Premier League? I don’t know. They have just come up again and everyone knows how tough it is that first season for promoted clubs.