Moustapha Salifou

He didn't play a part in any Villa games in the 2009-10 season yet Moustapha Salifou was probably the most high-profile claret and blue player in the press - for all the wrong reasons.

In January 2010, while away at the African Cup of Nations, the bus carrying Salifou and the rest of the Togo national side was attacked by gunmen.

Salifou revealed afterwards he felt lucky to be alive after seeing the bus driver, assistant manager and press officer killed in the 30-minute shooting.

Togo's bus in a convoy from Congo was six miles across the border in Angola when it came under fire.

It was a horrific incident and shocked the world of football but thankfully Salifou, popular with team-mates and fans alike, came out of it all unscathed.

He wasn't involved in any Barclays Premier League action the previous term but Salifou was a regular in Villa's various cup-ties, starting seven games and going on as a substitute in two others.

A tenacious midfielder who had arrived from Swiss club Wil 1900 on a 12-month contract in August 2007, the 'Togolese Zidane' as dubbed by Emmanuel Adebayor did enough in his debut campaign to earn an extension to his deal.

Despite his shortage of senior action, he has become a firm favourite with supporters, who sing his name at every opportunity.