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Stephen Warnock Bio
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Warnock joined Villa for around £8m in August 2009 after impressing during his time at Blackburn.
The tough-tackling defender, who has enough speed and technique to be used as attacking option down the flank, was a consistent performer for Rovers and showe his versatility by impressing in midfield.
Beginning his career at Liverpool, Warnock first began to be noticed at Anfield in 2001-02 with Liverpool's reserve outfit.
The former England youth international was loaned to Bradford City in September of 2002-03 where he scored once in 12 games and another loan spell followed in July 2003 as he joined another First Division club, Coventry City, for the season.
After being very much on the fringes of the Liverpool squad before Rafael Benitez's arrival at Anfield, Warnock suddenly found himself thrust into the Liverpool first team when the Spanish manager arrived ahead of the 2004-05 season.
He impressed on Liverpool's pre-season tour of the United States and Canada to earn his chance under Benitez and Warnock did not look back from there, featuring in half of Liverpool's Premiership fixtures.
The player became more involved in 2005-06, starting many games in the left-back position; but with Fabio Aurelio and John Arne Riise favoured at left-back, Warnock's first-team chances were limited, and he chose to move to Blackburn in the January 2007 transfer window - replacing the departing Lucas Neill.
He impressed in his two years at Ewood Park and was even linked with an England call-up after a stunning 2008-09 when he was used in a central midfield role.
With a fee of £8m being quoted, Warnock was the subject of interest and soon signed for Aston Villa in the summer transfer window.