Villa Skipper's Pride

Gareth Barry doesn't look like he intends to leave Aston Villa any day soon after talking about his pride that he has reached the 300 mark (the youngest player in the Premiership to get to that milestone) and is now looking to catch Charlie Aitken's 656 appearance record.

The Villa skipper told the official site that the testimonial is a great achievement because so few players get them in the modern game.

'There's only something like one a year being played now it seems and it would be a good achievement and very satisfying to do it as a club as big as Villa. I'm not sure who I'd like to play in my testimonial - Inter Milan, AC Milan? Will they have heard of me? Maybe Brighton!'

He was also asked if he was looking at breaking long term records:

'I think about it but then you can't look too far ahead. Having said that, I've signed a four-year contract and I want to play as many games as possible and be successful. So if that means totting up appearances and climbing higher and higher towards the record holders then that would be a big bonus for me. I take it a game at a time and a year at a time, but hopefully records come with it.'

And illustrating what a great attitude he has he added 'You have to look at yourself: if you can't come to training and enjoy it, it's a fantastic job and we're doing something we enjoy. Every player should try to be the best player in training and every game. That's the way I approach it and I'm sure that's the way a lot of the other players do as well.'

How refreshing to hear a player talk about how much they appreciate their life and put back in as much as they get out. There are a few who could take a leaf out of his book who ply their trade in the Premiership.

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