By Ryan Ghee
October 7 2005

Aston Villa defender Liam Ridgewell has signed a new three-year contract with the club. The England under-21 international has been in impressive form this season and will now remain at Villa Park until at least 2008. After signing the contract, Ridgewell commented, "This is great news for me and there was never any doubt in my mind when we opened talks on a new deal. I've come up through the ranks at this club and to be playing in the first team now is a real honour.

"I want to stay in the gaffer's plans and to do that I know I have to consistently produce the goods. Even if he brings in a new central defender in January, I want to be giving him a selection headache and pushing for a place.

"That was always the aim this season - to play more games. And, with Martin Laursen's injury, I'm playing more than I might have expected. Now it's up to me to take my chance."

Liam Ridgewell's sudden rise to fame has been partly due to the injury to fellow defender Martin Laursen. He was expected to provide back-up for Laursen and Mellberg in the heart of the defence but since the Danish international sustained a serious knee injury, Ridgewell has stepped in and showed that he is capable of competing at the highest level.

The 21 year-old defender has started all but one of Villa's matches this season and now, with 39 senior appearances under his belt, he is establishing himself as an integral part of O'Leary's plans.