New Aston Villa signing Nicky Shorey is confident that fellow summer recruit and former Reading team-mate Steve Sidwell will fulfil his potential at the club...
Sidwell was one of Reading's star players as they emerged a newly promoted side and rocketed into the top half of the Premier League in their debut season.
However, the midfielder left when his contract ran out to join Chelsea, where he was barely given any starting opportunities and his former side, missing his presence in the middle of the park, were relegated last season.
He signed for Villa this summer in search of more first team football, maintaining he does not regret his move to the Blues - one he believes he had to take and benefitted from - and has now been joined by former Reading team-mate Shorey.
The left-back was eager to leave at the same time as Sidwell, but hung in there for the fateful season that saw Steve Coppell's men face the drop. He has now moved to Villa Park as a replacement for the injured Wilfred Bouma, and is confident that Sidwell will shake off all his negative publicity now he is a Villan.
“I’m really good mates with Siddy, going back to our Reading days," Shorey told the club's official website. "He’s talked about getting back to the brilliant form he showed at Reading and I’ve got no doubt that’s what he’ll do.
“It was a bit stop-start for him at Chelsea, which it’s going to be when you’ve got that many players fighting for positions. Opportunities were few and far between. But I think he’ll show everyone what he can do and he’s a top player when he’s on top of his game.”
Shorey added: “I know he’s determined to prove himself here at Villa, I’m sure he’ll be a big favourite with the fans here just like he was at Reading.”
However, the midfielder left when his contract ran out to join Chelsea, where he was barely given any starting opportunities and his former side, missing his presence in the middle of the park, were relegated last season.
He signed for Villa this summer in search of more first team football, maintaining he does not regret his move to the Blues - one he believes he had to take and benefitted from - and has now been joined by former Reading team-mate Shorey.
The left-back was eager to leave at the same time as Sidwell, but hung in there for the fateful season that saw Steve Coppell's men face the drop. He has now moved to Villa Park as a replacement for the injured Wilfred Bouma, and is confident that Sidwell will shake off all his negative publicity now he is a Villan.
“I’m really good mates with Siddy, going back to our Reading days," Shorey told the club's official website. "He’s talked about getting back to the brilliant form he showed at Reading and I’ve got no doubt that’s what he’ll do.
“It was a bit stop-start for him at Chelsea, which it’s going to be when you’ve got that many players fighting for positions. Opportunities were few and far between. But I think he’ll show everyone what he can do and he’s a top player when he’s on top of his game.”
Shorey added: “I know he’s determined to prove himself here at Villa, I’m sure he’ll be a big favourite with the fans here just like he was at Reading.”
