Chris Herd set for first Villa start

If things had worked out differently Chris Herd might be preparing for a one-day international cricket match against England in Brisbane, rather than an FA Cup tie.

The 21-year-old Australian has made five substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and could be in line to make his first start for the club in the fourth-round clash against Blackburn tomorrow at Villa Park.

With the claret and blues facing a congested period of games manager Gerard Houllier has already admitted he is looking to rotate his squad and Herd is one of those likely to be given a chance.

Like many sportsman from Down Under Herd tried his hand at a number of sports before he settled on a career as a professional footballer.

And like any full-blooded Aussie he takes more than a passing interest in cricket and happened to be a handy player in his youth with dreams of wearing the baggy green.

"When I was younger I used to play quite a lot of cricket. I used to play both cricket and football with all my mates," said Herd.

"I always was more of a batsman than a bowler and my highest score was about 70 I think.

"I never quite got to a century but there is still time after I finishing playing football maybe.

"I'm not much of a bowler but can turn my arm over to a bit of off-spin as well.

"The coaches here at Villa sometimes used to let us have knockabout games of cricket in an old barn up at the training ground when we were a bit younger which was a great laugh.

"Shane Lowry plays a bit as well – although he hasn't got much of a batting technique, he's a lot more of a slogger than me."

Herd also admitted the fortunes of the Australian cricket team have led to a fair bit of banter from his team-mates after England retained the Ashes with a 3-1 series victory.

"I tried to avoid talk of the Ashes after the way Australia played," added Herd.

"I got plenty of stick off the lads after we lost them – although it was mainly the staff and the journalists who have given me the most grief and laying into me!

"Hopefully Australia will come back stronger during the cricket World Cup."

It is football where Herd's real talents lie, though, and he is one of a crop of Villa youngsters who have been knocking on the door of the first team this season.

Marc Albrighton and Ciaran Clark in particular have become regulars under Houllier and Herd wants to become the next player to establish himself in the side.

"It has been great to see a lot of the guys breaking into the first team like Marc Albrighton, Jonathan Hogg, Ciaran Clark and Barry Bannan," explained Herd.

"Shane Lowry has gone out on loan as well. We're a really close bunch and we all get on great.

"I want to follow in their footsteps and make that first-team breakthrough – that is the main goal for me.

"I just want to work hard in training, get a chance and then hopefully I can take that chance.

"I've been on the bench a few times so I've been in the manager's thoughts and I've come on a couple of times and it is nice to be thought of.

"I'm obviously involved in the team at the moment so if I can working hard and doing well my chance will come in the future.

"I've got quite a lot to my game and someone who can slot into several different positions."

Herd believes his game has already progressed by training every day with some of the club's star players who have helped him develop as player.

And his ultimate hope is that in a few years time he will be playing alongside the players he graduated with from the Villa Academy for the first team.

He added: "It is good experience training every day around some of the big name players in the Villa squad.

"Every day you are learning from them and picking up things from them which can hopefully help me develop my game in the long run.

"Because there have been quite a few youngster breaking through I think a lot of the more established guys have taken time out to help and advise us. They've all been helpful.

"The dream for me is to become an established player in the next four of five years, playing alongside the likes of Marc, Barry, Ciaran etc in front of the fans at Villa Park every week.

"Hopefully along with the rest of the guys we can all reach that goal together."