Since the exit of Gareth Barry, Aston Villa's engine room has looked distinctly void of ideas. In my eyes, Barry was an extremely under-rated and highly talent player who bought an air of calm and reliable quality to the heart of my team.
To put it mildy, Steve Sidwell does not come close to doing that. In fact, his most telling contribution since signing for Villa was costing us at least a point by inexplicably gifting relegated Middlesboro three points last season.
So despite a reasonable start, there was clearly a massive hole to be filled in the centre of Midfield in January if Villa were to make a legitimate challenge for the Champions Leage spot this season.
But perhaps, just perhaps, Martin O'Neill has had the answer in his locker since the summer.
The return to fitness of Stewart Downing, despite the player himself making no massive contribution in terms of goals or assists, has completely rejuvinated a side who looked lacking in creativity.
How, you ask? It has set James Milner free.
Since taking up a central midfield/free role position, Milner has looked a truely top player. He's scored three goals from outside the box, and provided two more through assists. His eye for a pass is uncanny, and had he been restricted to the right hand side all season we would never have known what a talent we possessed in our squad.
Yes, his first game in this role was away to struggling Pompey, where he scored a rifled shot from twenty yards. Yes, the second was home to Hull, who were blown away by the dynamic midfield three of Downing, Young and Milner.
But most recently, any doubts about Milner's ability to be a mature central midfielder rather then a winger with license to roam have been answered emphatically.
Away at Old Trafford, home of the Champions, he regularly showed both poise in possession and great discipline in tracking back and making important tackles in Villa's most impressive result for years.
And last night came his finest hour. An early assist was capped off by a thunderous thirty yard strike, where he held off a niggling Kieran Richardson before unleashing an astonishing strike past the helpless Martin Fulop.
As you can probably tell, I am extremely excited about the potential twenty-three year old Milner has shown in the last four victories. Not only from an Aston Villa standpoint, but injuries aside, and Milner is renowned for his consistent fitness, he must surely be on the plane to South Africa.
When he gets there, he could prove to be one of the upcoming stars of the tournament and a potential difference maker in England's quest to bring the trophy home.
Fabio Capello clearly likes him, using him in a number of positions recently, and he is now starting to take that confidence into his club side.
And as a proud Villa fan, I can't believe our luck!
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