Bradley Guzan

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MINI PROFILE

Brad Guzan returned to Villa in July 2012 with the aim of challenging Shay Given for the goalkeeper's jersey.

The USA international signed a new three-year contract to rejoin the club after his previous deal expired at the end of the 2011-12 campaign.

New manager Paul Lambert revealed his admiration for Guzan having been aware of his performances during a run of eight consecutive games deputising for Given last term.

The Chicago-born custodian stepped in when Given suffered an injury in the December defeat by Manchester United.

He went on to impress during an extended run in the side.

Guzan played the majority of the 2010-11 term on loan at Hull City, after boss at the time Gerard Houllier opted for the goalkeeping duo of Brad Friedel and Andy Marshall for first team duties.

He was loaned out to the Tigers at the end of December 2010 on a one-month temporary deal and made his debut on New Year's Day 2011 in a 1-0 loss to Leicester City.

His second appearance for the club ended on a higher note, as his team went on to emerge victorious 3-2 at Portsmouth.

The USA ace kept his first clean sheet for the club against Barnsley in a 2-0 win for Hull.

His loan was extended by another month at the end of January and he eventually returned to Villa Park in late February, having made 11 appearances for the Tigers in the Championship.

However, Hull re-signed Guzan on an emergency loan in late March - due to an injury to their other goalkeeper Vito Mannone.

Ironically his first appearance back at the club was in a home match against Burnley, with fellow loanee Nathan Delfouneso bagging the winner for the opposition.

He again returned to Villa in early April, having played his final match for Hull in a 2-1 win away at Watford.

He will now be looking to prove himself to new boss Alex McLeish and regain the form that made him a real prospect in 2009-10.

"No goal for you" is the catchphrase Villa fans affectionately labelled Guzan with, after his penalty-saving heroics that season.

Supporters saw glimpses of the American goalkeeper's ability during his debut season in claret and blue, when he featured in all of the team's domestic cup and European matches.

But it was two seasons ago when Guzan really made a name for himself with two notable performances in high-pressure situations.

Firstly, in the pre-season Peace Cup tournament, the Chicago-born stopper saved penalties from Juventus stars Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alessandro Del Piero as Villa toppled the Italian giants in a shoot-out to lift the trophy.

However, that performance was surpassed in October 2009, when Guzan was the hero in another penalty triumph.

After saving a spot-kick in normal time, Guzan denied three Black Cats players in the shoot-out to send Martin O'Neill's team into the next round.

Unfortunately for the ace stopper, his path to Barclays Premier League action was generally blocked by the heroics of fellow USA ace Brad Friedel, who has since moved on to Tottenham.

Guzan was forced to play a waiting game before swapping the Windy City for the West Midlands.

He looked set to join Villa in January 2008, only for the transfer to be put on hold when he was refused a work permit.

But manager O'Neill was determined to get his man and, nearly eight months later, Guzan finally put pen to paper after the permit was granted.

Guzan has been capped by the USA on numerous occasions and featured in the 2008 Olympic Games and 2010 World Cup squads.