Where are they now? Aston Villa’s young guns; featuring Nathan Delfouneso

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We catch up with some of the youngsters who have left Aston Villa in recent years.

One former Aston Villa youngster who now plays his football down under is Shane Lowry. The defender spent seven years at Villa Park following his arrival at the club back in 2005. He went on to have spells with Millwall, Leyton Orient and Birmingham City before returning to his home city with A-League side Perth Glory in the summer.

Benjamin Siegrist is also playing his football abroad. The Swiss goalkeeper’s seven-year association with Villa came to end in the summer when he failed to earn a contract extension. Siegrist is currently a first-team regular for FC Vaduz, who sit bottom of the Swiss Super League.

Lewis Kinsella, Enda Stevens and Nathan Delfouneso are among the former Villa academy graduates to ply their trade in League Two.

Kinsella started the season as first choice left-back in John McGreal’s play-off pushing Colchester United side. However, a serious ankle injury has kept him out of action for the last four months.

Alex McLeish signed 21-year-old Stevens back in 2011 following an impressive run of performances for Shamrock Rovers in the Europa League. The Republic of Ireland left-back failed to make an impact at Villa and was let go three years later to sign for Portsmouth. He is already closing in on 100 appearances for Pompey, as they look set to finally win promotion from English football’s fourth tier.

Delfouneso is now in his second spell with Blackpool after his departure from Villa Park in 2014. The striker re-joined the Seasiders in January following goal-shy stints at Blackburn Rovers and Swindon Town. He has already recaptured his goalscoring touch, finding the back-of-the-net against Yeovil Town, Carlisle United and Crewe Alexandra.

Former Villa academy prospects Janoi Donacien and Elliot Parish both turn out for 19^th place League Two side Accrington Stanley.

Parish spent time with Cardiff City, Bristol City, Blackpool and Colchester before signing for Stanley in the summer. The keeper has made 11 league appearances this season, but hasn’t featured since the 1-0 defeat to Plymouth Argyle in December. Donacien, who was released by Villa in June, has played 21 times for John Coleman’s side.

Samir Carruthers and Chris Herd are among the ex-Villa youngsters to be at League One clubs.

Carruthers’ performances for MK Dons earned him a move to table topping Sheffield United in January, while Herd returned to English football with Gillingham following a brief spell with Perth Glory last year.

Meanwhile, Callum Robinson (Preston North End), Daniel Johnson (Preston North End), Eric Lichaj (Nottm Forrest), Derrick Williams (Blackburn Rovers) and Barry Bannan (Sheffield Wednesday) are among the ex-Villa youngsters now competing against their former side in the Championship.