Luke has plenty Moore to offer
Aston Villa striker Luke Moore has set his sights on becoming an integral part of the team alongside Steve Davis and Liam Ridgewell.
Moore, midfielder Davis and central defender Liam Ridgewell all played for Villa at under-16 level and were members of the 2002 FA Youth Cup-winning team.
Now all three of them are starting to play on a regular basis in the Villa senior side and Moore was preferred as Kevin Phillips’ strike partner ahead of club record signing Juan Pablo Angel for Saturday’s home clash with Wigan.
Davis broke into the starting line-up 11 months ago and has remained there ever since, also becoming an integral part of the Northern Ireland team – for whom he played a major role in the World Cup qualifier win over England in Belfast last month.
Martin Laursen’s knee problems led to a sooner-than-expected promotion for Ridgewell but he is showing great potential and, like Moore, is part of the England Under-21 squad.
Moore, who became the first player to score against Chelsea this season in the Premiership, said: “The Youth Cup-winning side was a great team. It is one I will always look back on with pride and affection no matter what I may or may not go on to achieve in football.
“It’s nice when I look back down the pitch now and see Steve Davis and Liam Ridgewell behind me as we’ve played together since we were under-16s.
“I don’t have to ask where to play the ball as I know what they’re looking for from me. There’s also Peter Whittingham, now on loan at Derby, who was part of that team.
“I know the academy staff, who have pushed us through, take great pride seeing us out there now at first team level.
“We’re comfortable with each other on and off the field. Hopefully we can be the spine of the Villa first team for years ahead because we all want to improve.”
