Aston Villa-owned Gary Gardner joined Birmingham City on a season-long loan.
Gary Gardner has told reporters how joining Birmingham City on loan from city-rivals Aston Villa was an easy decision to make as the two clubs are set to meet this weekend, the Independent report.
“It was an easy decision – Birmingham’s a big club in its own right. I’d heard a lot of good things before I came in and since I’ve arrived he [Garry Monk] has really helped me with my game,” Gardner explained.
“I feel at home. The fan-base at Birmingham is brilliant and it’s a proud moment for my family [some of whom are Blues fans] for me to play for Birmingham City. So, it was a no-brainer.”
With heavy competition for places in Villa’s midfield, Gardner was always going to struggle for regular game-time at Villa Park this season and a move away from the club didn’t come as a surprise.
But not many players move directly to city-rivals Birmingham, and especially on a loan deal.
Gardner has since become a first-team regular for the Blues, starting 14 Championship games and playing a key role in the west Midlands side’s 10-game unbeaten run which ultimately ended with defeat at Derby County.
The 26-year-old has averaged 2.4 tackles and 1.6 interceptions per league game this season (Whoscored), but Birmingham will have to do without his presence when they face Villa this coming weekend.
Villa head into the clash coming off the back of an excellent 3-0 win at in-form Derby, with new midfield signing John McGinn putting in a remarkable display and getting on the score-sheet late on.
Hosts Villa will start the game as favourites, but Birmingham have improved under Monk and they will be desperate to put on a better showing than last season when they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat.
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