Sidwell now settled at Villa Park

14 October 2009 09:49
The midfielder endured a difficult first season at Villa Park after moving from Chelsea. He suffered a series of niggling injuries and also failed to establish himself in the first XI when fit. But the departure of Gareth Barry to Manchester City created an opening and Sidwell, who will face his former club at Villa Park on Saturday, has grabbed it with both hands He said: "The settling in period didn't go as well as I wanted but now it is going great. "Once you get a run of games, you start to express yourself. It's very hard to come in one game at a time or off the bench as it was last year. "I had a run of games around Christmas when I was doing well but I came out of the side. "I've played a few on the bounce now, it feels comfortable, the team looks good and long may it continue." Sidwell added: "How do you deal with being out of the side? Try and keep your head down, keep working hard in training and hope there is light at the end of the tunnel, a break or a chance, and that's what I've done. "I'm a strong character, I got my head down and hopefully now I am reaping the rewards. My performances are getting there but I can still do a lot better." Defenders Wilfred Bouma and Luke Young both came through a friendly with Crewe unscathed after lengthy injury lay-offs. Bouma, who has not tasted first-team action for 15 months after dislocating an ankle against BK Odense in the Intertoto Cup, completed 85 minutes. Young, who suffered a thigh injury in August during the Peace Cup in Spain and was also given compassionate leave after the death of his half-brother, played for 75 minutes. Chelsea 10/11, Draw 23/10, Aston Villa 16/5  

Source: Team_Talk