Stephen Warnock
Nationality :
English
Date of Birth :
12/12/1981
Height :
5' 10" (178cm)
Weight :
11st 13lbs (75.53kg)
Squad Number :
3
Previous Clubs :
Blackburn, Coventry (loan),
Bradford (loan), Liverpool
Position :
Defender
Stephen Warnock had one of those "seasons to forget" in 2010-11, with the experienced left-back falling completely out of favour in the New Year.
Villa's Mr Dependable had enjoyed a good run in the side up until the 4-0 away defeat to Manchester City at Eastlands.
But following that heavy loss, Warnock failed to make another bench, let alone a spot in the team as he endured a difficult spell in claret and blue.
The top-quality stopper will be looking for a new lease of life under manager Alex McLeish.
His start to life at Villa was highly impressive after joining late in the summer transfer window of 2009.
The reliable left-back could not have picked a bigger game to make his debut in claret and blue - the Second City derby against Birmingham City in September 2009.
But Warnock and fellow defensive recruits Richard Dunne and James Collins flourished in the pressure-cooker atmosphere as Villa emerged 1-0 winners at St Andrews.
It was a sign of things to come as the former Liverpool stopper played a huge part in establishing one of the top-flight's meanest defences.
If Warnock picked a significant occasion to make his debut, the timing of his first Villa goal was also fitting. It came in the epic 6-4 Carling Cup semi-final second leg victory against the club he signed from, Blackburn Rovers.
The Liverpool Academy graduate also managed to catch the eye of Fabio Capello, who named him in his 23-man England squad for the 2010 World Cup.
While the chance to be part of football's grandest showpiece was an undoubted highlight of Warnock's career, the Ormskirk-born star achieved one of his boyhood ambitions much earlier in his professional career.
In 2001, he was called up to train full-time with Liverpool's first-team squad and, three years later, his long-awaited debut for his hometown club came against Sturm Graz in the Champions League.
Mark Hughes swooped to sign Warnock for Blackburn in 2007 and he became a fans' favourite during two seasons at Ewood Park.
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