Stephen Warnock: This was my biggest Aston Villa disappointment
By Matt Farr
Former Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock has revealed his frustration at not making more appearances for the club.
The veteran 35-year-old is set for a reunion with his former club as Wigan host Aston Villa at the DW Stadium in Saturday’s Championship clash.
Warnock made 104 appearances during his four-year stint at Villa Park, but revealed to the Aston Villa official club website he laments not making even more.
He said: “I had four years at Villa and it was a real mixed bag because I had two great seasons on a personal note and then two frustrating ones, but overall, I enjoyed playing for such a great club.
“It’s a club steeped in great history and I feel very privileged to have played for them.
“I played over 100 games for Villa and when I look back the disappointing thing was that I didn’t make more.”
After falling out-of-favour with then-manager Paul Lambert during the 2012-13 season, Warnock spent three months out on loan at Championship outfit Bolton.
He played 15 times at the Macron Stadium before returning to Aston Villa. But he was swiftly pushed back through the exit door by Lambert in January, and was sold to Leeds.
The two-time England international also turned out in the second-tier for Derby, before joining Wigan on a one-year contract back in May 2016.
Warnock’s Wigan currently sit 23rd in the Championship, five points adrift of safety. They host an Aston Villa side that are 12th in the table, but have struggled for consistency throughout the campaign.
Villa pulled off an impressive victory over promotion candidates Sheffield Wednesday a week ago, continuing a good run of form that has seen them record four victories from their last five league games.
But Steve Bruce’s side have still been well off the pace this season, and sit 14 points behind the play-offs.
In other Aston Villa news, Jores Okore has hit out at Villa following his nightmare spell with the club, claiming they were better with him in the team.
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