It was a frustrating season for local boy Isaiah Osbourne, who found himself pushed down Villa's pecking order following a number of summer signings.

Osbourne didn't get a single minute of Barclays Premier League action, although he was involved in half-a-dozen cup games before gaining more first team experience during a late-season loan spell with Nottingham Forest.

A shy, retiring character off the pitch, Osbourne is a forceful character whenever he goes into action.

He proved as much when he went on as a substitute against Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium in March 2008, showing no signs of being overawed by the 60,000-plus crowd as he helped Villa to a 1-1 draw.