Nathan Baker

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MINI PROFILE

Nathan Baker has shown great promise as a central defender and a left-back since breaking into Villa's first team.

The Worcester-born stopper joined the club as a 13-year-old and progressed through the academy before making his first team debut in January 2011.

In 2007-08, Baker formed a successful central defensive partnership with Ciaran Clark as Villa were crowned champions of the Barclays Premier Academy League.

He also played a part in three straight Barclays Premier Reserve League South title-winning campaigns.

Manager at the time Martin O'Neill was clearly impressed and he selected Baker for the first team's pre-season tour to Switzerland in 2008.

Baker's first taste of senior football came in 2008-09 when he joined fellow Villa academy graduates Chris Herd and Eric Lichaj on loan at Lincoln City.

He featured 18 times for the Imps in League Two.

But Baker's big breakthrough came in January 2011 when Gerard Houllier handed him a surprise debut in the top-flight victory over Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium.

After a faultless debut, fortune conspired against Baker as he was sent off in his second Premier League appearance against Blackburn, before being forced off with an injury against the same opponents in the FA Cup.

Nevertheless, those setbacks didn't deter Baker whose efforts were rewarded with a new contract in June 2011.

Last term the defender made six appearances during a loan spell at Millwall.

But he was called into action back at Villa when Richard Dunne suffered a broken collarbone in the defeat against Manchester City in February.

Baker seized his opportunity and made eight appearances in total.

He has also been on England's radar throughout his young career, representing his nation at U19, U20 and U21 levels.

Baker featured in all of England's games at the U20 World Cup in Columbia in 2011 and made his U21 debut against Iceland in the same year.