Nathan Baker

Nathan Baker made major strides in 2010-11 and impressed many with his maturity, in spite of his young years.

He made his Villa debut in the magnificent 2-1 away win at Wigan, deputising for the injured Ciaran Clark at left-back.

Villa clinched a fourth round spot in the FA Cup against Blackburn in his next game but he was dismissed just after the hour mark after fouling Junior Hoilett.

His top-flight appearance against Blackburn was also reduced, when he was forced off with a head injury after suffering concussion.

After a spell out of the side, he then returned to the line-up for the top-flight tussle with Bolton, excelling in an injury-ravaged side missing James Collins, Richard Dunne and Carlos Cuellar.

Baker is an aggressive and positive central defender-cum-left-back who always produces performances of total commitment.

He first came to first team prominence when some impressive performances for the reserves earned him a place on the pre-season trip to Switzerland three seasons ago and he played in both friendlies against Wil 1900 and Zurich.

He did well enough in those games to warrant inclusion in the first team squad for Villa's Intertoto Cup-tie against Odense and the subsequent UEFA Cup qualifier against FH Hafnarfjordur.

Those early season games, plus another pre-season friendly at Walsall, were the extent of Baker's involvement at senior level before this term.

He spent the majority of the 2009-10 campaign at Lincoln City and made a big impression at Sincil Bank before returning to Villa consciousness last term.