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Who was that playing on the right wing for Aston Villa in their 2-2 draw at Everton on Saturday? He was the best player on the pitch by a country mile.
Aah, you mean Stewart Downing.
No, I said right winger. Downing plays on the left, doesn't he?
Back to form: Downing (left) produced another top-class display against Everton
Not on Saturday, he didn't. Nor in his man-of-the match performance for England against Ghana.
So, where's he been?
He has been beset by injuries, a loss of form and low confidence that he has been slowly rebuilding since arriving from Middlesbrough in 2009.
What happened?
His soon-to-be team-mate Stiliyan Petrov stomped on his toe during an end-of-season game and it made for an unhappy first campaign for the ?12million signing in what turned out to be manager Martin O'Neill's last season.
Why unhappy?
He missed pre-season and the fans thought he was a bit powder-puff when he eventually returned.
That's a bit harsh, whoever heard of a tough-tackling winger?
Exactly, they have been a bit hard on Downing at Villa Park. But this season he should pick up the player of the season award.?
Get shirty: Diniyar Bilyaletdinov gives Downing a tug
A big turnaround then?
He is beginning to look like the player O'Neill pinned so many of his hopes upon.
But there are so few players who have featured regularly under Gerard Houllier's different approach to squad rotation that there are only a few credible candidates.
You're damning him with faint praise.
No, Darren Bent admitted that Downing's form has been on the up when he said: 'I heard before I got here that fans were on his back. But from what I've seen, he's a top player. He's got a wonderful left foot.'
What does the man himself say?
'It has been a season that has not been the best, but on a personal level I've enjoyed it. If you look at the side's displays overall, we have played really badly. If we cut out the mistakes, we should be fine.'?
Under pressure: Villa manager Houllier
It looked like Villa were taking over the England team in midweek with Downing, Darren Bent, Ashley Young, James Milner, Gareth Barry and Gary Cahill having all passed through the club.
Back to Downing: 'The Villa lads did well for England and it took a bit of pressure off them, being away. We had time to think about it and now we know what we need to do.'
So Fabio Capello might have given Gerard Houllier a pointer, playing Downing on the right?
Ssshhh! Don't say that.
Houllier finally brought back his big-game players and shoved Ashley Young out to the left wing, where he is clearly at his most threatening, and it showed.
And Downing was the star man, was he?
Yes, in his 'new' position, he created a goal for Bent and caused Leighton Baines several problems.
But Houllier deserves credit for recognising Downing's threat on the right.
After the season Villa's boss has had, it's probably the least he deserves.
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?Explore more:People: Martin O'Neill, Darren Bent, Fabio Capello, Ashley Young, Stiliyan Petrov, James Milner, Stewart Downing, Gary Cahill, Gareth Barry, Gerard Houllier Places: United Kingdom, Ghana
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Daily Mail