Like several goalkeepers before him, Brad Guzan played a waiting game following his arrival from American club Chivas USA.

With fellow American Brad Friedel impressive between the posts, opportunities were few and far between for the keeper from the Windy City, his only Premier League action coming after Friedel was harshly sent off in a 5-0 defeat at Liverpool.

Guzan did, however, get the nod in seven cup-ties, proving himself to be highly competent between the posts.

Waiting is nothing new to the club's second choice goalkeeper, who was set to join Villa in January 2008, only for the transfer to be put on hold when he was refused a work permit.

Manager Martin O'Neill refused to give up, though, and nearly eight months later Guzan became a Villa player when the permit was finally granted.

Guzan was voted the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2007 and was a member of the USA squad for the 2008 Olympic Games in China.