Phil Bardsley

Tough-tackling Phil Bardsley is proud to fly the local flag in United's cosmopolitan squad. He was born in Eccles and bred in Salford, not far from the football pitches at Littleton Road and The Cliff where United used to train.

His aspirations were fostered from an early age as he watched players like Bryan Robson and Roy Keane going through their paces. By the time Phil started his three-year scholarship in July 2001, the club had moved its training HQ to Carrington. There, all the scholars, not just the Salfordians, could be inspired by seeing the senior players at close quarters.

Bardsley completed his journey from the Salford playing fields to the senior United ranks with a League Cup trip to West Brom in December 2003. The Reds lost 2-0 but it was still a successful night on a personal level. Sir Alex described his performance at right-back as "outstanding." He can also play at centre-back, the position he occupied in his first season with United's youth team. In his second season, 2002/03, he helped the club to win the FA Youth Cup in a feat he described as "massive for a young footballer."

He is perhaps unfortunate to be competing with club skipper Gary Neville. However, a natural successor to the right-back berth, Phil seized his chance when Gary was injured in autumn 2005. He started the 2-1 home win over Benfica in September, then six of the seven matches in October. Bardsley spent the latter part of 2005/06 on loan to Burnley, his second spell away from the club following a stint with Royal Antwerp in 2003/04. He helped Burnley keep four clean sheets in six matches.

Further loan deals beckoned throughout the 2006/07 season, with mixed results for the combative defender. Bardsley and fellow United youngster Lee Martin spent the first half of the campaign at Rangers, where both impressed on

the field. Away from the action, however, Bardsley's forthright exchange of views with then-Gers boss Paul Le Guen led to the defender being dropped.

Phil made just seven appearances at Ibrox, scoring one goal, before returning to Manchester. His learning curve steepened when Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill took him to Villa Park for the latter half of the campaign. Afforded a regular starting berth, Bardsley shone at the midlands club and went on to make 13 impressive appearances for Villa.