PLAYER PROFILE

Jlloyd Samuel

Position: Defence

Height: 5'11

Weight: 12st 2lbs

Date of Birth: 1981-03-29 San Fernando, Trinidad

Jlloyd Samuel

Jlloyd Samuel joined the Villa fold on a YTS in July 1997, but didn't sign professional forms until January 1999. But that is not to say that the Villa coaching staff didn't have belief in the young defender's abilities, as he was trusted to deputise for Gareth Southgate at the tail end of the 1999/00 season when the Villa captain was given a rest.

His big break came in the 2001/02 season, after a succesful loan spell at Gillingham, he was brought into the Villa first team by Graham Taylor, and kept the experienced Alan Wright out of the side. A call-up for the England Under 21s followed, and Samuel signed a long-term deal with Villa at the end of the season.

Samuel's versatility made him a very useful member of the Villa squad. Before breaking into the team at left-back, he had made an impression in December, filling in at right-back for the injured Mark Delaney.

Although he had a relatively successful 2002/03 season under Graham Taylor at his club, Samuel's international progress didn't go as well as hoped. He was still yet to make an appearance for the senior side, and didn't appear for the Under-21s.

At club level, 2003/04 was a good year for Samuel as he helped David O'Leary's side up to sixth in the league, scoring three goals along the way. However, he seemed to be out of the picture as far as England was concerned.

The 2005/06 campaign was a disappointment for Samuel, however. Although he made 38 appearances, he lacked confidence and could not reproduce the same form he showed in the previous season - much like the Villa team as a whole.

This didn't get much better in the 2006/07 season, leading to him taking the decision to leave the club. In May 2007 he agreed a free transfer switch to Bolton Wanderers.