Albrighton relishes taste of the action; OneTo Watch.

Byline: Bill Howell

ALBION'S loss was certainly Villa's gain in the case of diminutive winger Marc Albrighton who came to the fore in Villa's pre-season excursion to the Peace Cup.

The 19-year-old caught the eye with his ability both to take defenders on and get in tantalising crosses from the right.

Albrighton started his career at Tamworth-based club Mile Oak Monarchs, before he was offered a trial at West Brom as an eight-yearold.

But it was Villa who made their move and eventually it was to be the 2006-07 season, Martin O'Neill's first at the club, where he would make his mark with 19 appearances for the Academy and eight appearances for the reserves.

The following year Albrighton continued his fine progress by pen-nina new two-year deal, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2010.

His first taste of senior action arrived in July, 2008, playing 17 minutes as a substitute in the 6-0 pre-season friendly victory over FC Wil in Switzerland.

But the one night he will clearly never forget was when Albrighton made his debut in the UEFA Cup away to CSKA Moscow at the Luzhniki Stadium in February 2009. Villa may have been beaten but the winger had finally arrived on the big stage.

Albrighton was on the scoresheet for the first time against Atlante in Malaga and admitted that his sudden rise to prominence had been exhilarating.

"Overall, it is an amazing feeling," he said. "The emotions you go through in football are incredible."

Emile Heskey certainly believes the winger is one for the future: "He has done brilliantly and I can't speak highly enough of him.

"He has been thrown in at the deep end a little and I don't think he will have expected to play so much but he has taken to it easily and proved himself."

CAPTION(S):

Progress: Villa's Marc Albrighton.