Whittingham signs in

Last updated : 14 February 2005 By Tony Scholes

England Under-21 international Whittingham has been out of Villa’s Premiership squad since the end of 2004 and David O’Leary has agreed to him joining the Clarets, initially on loan.

Despite being just 20 he has already made 49 Premiership appearances although in the last year he has featured more from the bench. It was in the first half of the 2003/04 season that he made a massive impact and from the start of that season through to January he was a regular.

He plays in midfield and can play both centrally and down the left hand side as well as being able to fit in on the left hand side of defence. He was on the left hand side of midfield when he lined up for the England Under-21 side against Holland last week.

He’s joined the Clarets initially for a month but that could be extended until the end of the season. He is expected to be in the squad for the game against Crewe tomorrow night.