The Northern Ireland international was a boyhood Aston Villa fan and player.
Aston Villa take on Burton Albion in their next Championship fixture and in doing so will be going up against a former player at the club.
Jamie Ward came through the ranks at Aston Villa, but never managed to feature for the first-team at Villa Park during his stint with the club.
Burton’s Lloyd Dyer celebrates scoring their first goal with Jamie Ward
The 30-year-old was released in 2007 and worked his way back up the ladder with the likes of Torquay United, Chesterfield, Sheffield United, Derby County and is currently on loan at Burton from Nottingham Forest.
Despite being up against his boyhood club the Northern Ireland international has made it clear that if he finds the back of the net against Villa on Boxing day, he will not hold back in his celebrations.
Burton’s Jamie Ward scores their second goal
He told the Burton Mail this week:
“It’s obviously nice to go and play at one of the better grounds in the country,” said Ward. “For me, being a Villa fan, I’ll cherish the moment because I’ve not played there in a competitive match so I’ll enjoy it and my family will enjoy it.
“At the end of the day it’s just another game of football and our aim is to go there and upset them.”
“You have to celebrate every goal.
“I’d celebrate in a local derby – it makes no difference. I’ll always celebrate a goal.
“At the end of the day I’m paid to score goals and it’s the best feeling in the world.”
Many footballers choose not to celebrate when up against their former teams but it would appear that Ward has no interest in being one of them.
Burton go into the game needing a good result as they struggle to get away from the relegation zone in the Championship but Villa are riding high and have their eyes on the play-offs.
They will be hoping Ward does not put a spanner in the works.
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