Downing Fit And Raring To Go

Stewart Downing has started his first pre season since joining Villa and is determined to prove that fans haven't seen the best of him yet.

Last season Downing supplied us with a few flashes of the type of player that had Middlesvilla fans crowing he was better than Barry but for the most part his form was woefully below average, especially for the bread and butter stuff you expect from a 'pacy winger', but it's not hard to factor in that he didn't have a pre season last time round and it was clearly obvious he was both neither fit enough for the games he played, and more importantly was clearly exhausted in others.

The beauty this time round is he will know he doesn't have that excuse or defence, and given the permanent flop of England's left sided stars, he should be determined to make an impact at club level now to get his position back in the national team.

Speaking on the Official Site that is at least how Downing sounds, he is a player who cannot have been happy with his form last term and he has plenty of reasons, well 12 million of them in fact, to seriously improve on that this season.

Commenting on the training, Downing just seems happy to be back and involved this time round, even though he's no doubt feeling it:

'It has been good, it is just good to get the start of a good pre season under my belt.'

Whilst Downing's form last season was questionable, he is right when he comments that in playing so many games after missing 7 odd months of our season, that he didn't suffer any complications or breakdowns with his leg so that in itself bodes well that his form should return pretty quickly once fully fit and properly sharp.

Downing ends with the immortal promise, and it's one I certainly hope will come true - actually I'm certain it will come true because whilst I can still debate whether he in fact 'better' than Barry, he is a very good old style winger and he definitely capable of doing a job for us and I would hope provide that spark of competition that could kick Ash up another level.

'This season I will have a full pre season under my belt and hopefully you will see the best of me in a full season.'

We'll hold him to that!

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