In the closing 20 minutes here Owen Coyle, the Burnley manager, got a lesson in keeping up with the Joneses, Premier League style. He brought on an England international, his Aston Villa counterpart Martin O'Neill brought on two â€" and it was not just a matter of quantity either. No offence to David Nugent and his solitary England appearance but if Burnley had 78 caps worth of Emile Heskey and Stewart Downing to introduce from the bench it is quite likely they would now be just three points behind Villa, not five.
Downing was bought from Middlesbrough to Villa Park at a cost of £12m to help Villa chase that coveted fourth Premier League spot and, thanks in part to the left-winger, they inhabited it for 24 hours. It was Downing's corner that Brian Jensen ineffectually punched clear, giving James Milner â€" another England international in the ranks â€" the opportunity to return the ball to the six-yard box for Heskey to head home his first club goal since April, with his first effort on target this season.
Downing himself had not played since May, having broken his foot under a challenge from his new club captain, Stilian Petrov, during a 1-1 draw at the Riverside. Milner said there has been little or no mention of the incident since Downing's move, though the versatile midfielder admits he was not altogether sorry when it occurred.
"It was an accident but it was a good thing for me at the time because I was playing right-back," said Milner. "He's a great player and we are happy to have him back. It was an accident and I think it shows his attitude and how hard he's worked that he is back sooner than we all hoped he would be.
"He's been waiting a long time. He's been patient, he's been working very hard and that's what people don't always see â€" people staying until three or four in the afternoon or coming in very early and grafting in the gym. It's very lonely sometimes and frustrating for him, but he's been working hard and he's got his rewards. I'm sure he is delighted to be involved."
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