Villa fan opts to stay in warzone

A Staffordshire soldier in Afghanistan has delayed a break away from the warzone – to make sure he is back on home soil for the League Cup final at Wembley.

Aston Villa nut Nick Cox, a tank commander with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, is midway through a six-month tour of duty at Camp Bastion and changed his holiday.

The former Fair Oak High School pupil, from Hagley Road, Rugeley, was due to fly home on February 10.

But that would have meant the 22-year-old heading back to Helmand Province agonisingly just days before Villa's first Wembley final in a decade. He has now arranged to fly home on February 19, allowing him to roar on his beloved team at the final on February 28.

Nick, whose dad Steven is keeping his seat warm at Villa Park, kept up-to-date with last week's semi-final by staying glued to the camp's computer. Mum Jill posted goalflash-style updates on his Facebook webpage.

Steven, 51, said dreams of a Wembley win will give his son a massive morale boost. "We are extremely proud of him and can't wait to have him back so he can give his mum a birthday present and go and watch Villa."