Name: Chris Herd
Date of Birth: 10th August 1988
Position: Centre Midfield, Right Wing, Right Back
Club: Aston Villa
Previous clubs: Bayswater City, Port Vale(loan), Wycombe(loan), Lincoln(loan)
International caps: Australia U19 5(0)
Australia U20 7(0)
Some impressive displays for the reserves of A-League side Bayswater City Herd, along with fellow Aussie Shane Lowry, joined Villa for a nominal fee in 2005, aged just 16.
His potential was that big that Villa gave him a two year youth contract followed by the pre-contract agreement for a 12 month professional contract, two years before he was old enough to sign it!
He immediately made his way into the Villa reserve side, making 19 appearances, scoring twice, for the reserves in histwo campaigns as a YTS, whilst also netting once in twenty one games for the academy during that time.
He was part of the Villa side that won the HKFC Phillips International Sevens Tournament and earnt himself a two year deal for when he turned 17, an additional 12 months on the deal already on the table.
He continued his progress in the Villa reserves during 2007/8, being a key player in a successful, if youthful, Villa side, showing his versatility as he played central midfield, right wing and right back and, after a couple of loan spells to League Two sides, Herd was rewarded with a 12 month extension at the end of the season, taking him through to the summer of 2010.
The first loan spell of Herd's career saw him join Port Vale on a one month deal, extended to two, and he had an eventful time at Vale Park, making his pro debut, an additional 10 appearances, scoring his first two pro goals and also picking up his first ever red card before returning to Villa Park.
He was then loaned to Wycombe and played four times in a month long stay at Adams Park.
2008/9 saw Herd stay around the fringes of the Villa side and made the bench for parts of the clubs European campaign before representing his country at the FIFA U20 World Championships in the summer of 2009.
Pre-season for 2009/10 saw Herd heavily involved with the Villa first team and although he missed a penalty in the Peace Cup final shoot out Villa still triumphed and after failing to break into Villa's impressive side he was loaned out to Lincoln where he became a key figure of the side, playing twenty times for the Imps and scoring four times in his seven months at the League Two side.
Described as energetic and dynamic, Herd has been given a new two year deal at Villa Park and will be looking to break into the side over the next twelve months.