By Paul Brown
Barry Bannan says the courageous draw against Champions League runners-up Manchester United was the highlight of his breakthrough campaign in claret and blue - as he set his sights on more standout moments next term.
Bannan was part of a youthful line-up against the eventual Barclays Premier League winners back in November 2010.
Also starting that game were Marc Albrighton and Jonathan Hogg while Chris Herd, Eric Lichaj and Nathan Delfouneso all came off the bench in the Red Devils clash.
Bannan says that 2-2 draw with last night's losing finalists at Wembley was tremendous because it was against the odds.
And the midfield dynamo admits that sort of experience has whetted his appetite for more brilliant battles when the new campaign kicks-off.
He said: "My goal against Rapid Vienna was a massive highlight obviously - it seems an eternity ago. But the biggest one was the Manchester United game at Villa Park.
"I thought we played great that day with a fairly inexperienced midfield line-up. The fans were superb too, cheering us on throughout the match.
"To run a team like that - champions of England and runners-up to Barcelona last night - so close was unbelievable - a tremendous experience.
"We really did have so many young players in the side that day, it was brilliant. That certainly sticks out.
"If you'd have told me I'd have played against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Brazil for Scotland I'd definitely have taken it.
"It's been unbelievable. It obviously petered out a bit at the end and I'd have loved it to have been all highs. But I'm just going to look back on it as a good season for me and come back next term and build on it."
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