“Villa was a great time for me, but one which had a tough ending.

“Once you are taught and you have that experience of that level and that time I had at Villa, you never lose that coaching. It’s definitely something that sticks with you.

“I loved it there. I was in the squad that won the NextGen Series, so it was a memorable time.

I think it was the best thing I achieved, winning the equivalent to the Under-19 Champions League.

“It was a massive thing for Aston Villa as well because we weren’t expected to win. I think we were counted as the underdogs, but beating Chelsea in the final was a great experience.”

“I was there until I was 18, but broke my leg in the week before my 19th birthday.

“That’s when it diverted my career in football. It was horrible because you have put your heart into something, and I’d worked so hard at Villa.”

“Then my time at Villa was exceptional, it’s crazy when you start to make money from what you enjoy. I think that was the maddest realisation because you’re getting paid to do something you love.

“I just remember getting my first pay cheque and it was like, wow. It was a scholarship, it was gone quickly, but it was that feeling to know I can take my mum and brother out for food; I can buy some gifts from what I’ve done. It just gave me that hunger to improve.”

Liam Bateman.