Villa loanee Kyle Walker is aiming to upset family

Villa new boy Kyle Walker is ready to upset the Sheffield United supporters in his family tomorrow as he prepares to play an FA Cup game at Bramall Lane for the first time.

The 20-year-old defender has joined Villa on a six-month loan deal from Tottenham and is poised to make his debut against his former club in the third-round clash.

Walker featured in four FA Cup ties for the Blades but, having played all of them away from Bramall Lane, the right-back is looking forward to making his debut in front of his family at his hometown club.

"It's going to be very strange sitting in the away dressing room at Bramall Lane," said Walker.

"It will be weird but I'm hoping that, as a Villa player, we can go there and get a result even though I grew up as a Blades fan.

"I've got loads of memories of Sheffield United having started at the club from the age of about seven and I came all the way through the academy system.

"I played a couple of first-team games and then before I knew it I'm playing in a play-off final at Wembley for my hometown club in front of 80,000-odd people.

"So I've got a lot of good memories of Sheffield United and I'm looking forward to going back.

"My dad is a Leeds fan but my mum and everyone else back home are Sheffield United fans and they are excited for tomorrow.

"They are all coming to the match and will want me to do well, although there will obviously be a lot of mixed emotions.

"But whatever happens on the day happens so hopefully it will be a Villa win and we'll go from there."

Walker produced some eye-catching performances while on loan at QPR recently which prompted Villa boss Gerard Houllier to bring the player to the club on a temporary basis.

First-choice right-back Luke Young has been besieged by injury problems throughout this campaign and has been forced to consult a specialist about his knee.

Eric Lichaj impressed on his Premier League debut against Albion but looked suspect against Tottenham and Manchester City having given a clumsy penalty away in the 4-0 loss to the latter.

And Walker, who has won four England Under-21 caps, realises he will face competition but is determined to prove he is Premier League class.

"I've come in on a high. I haven't lost many games at QPR so hopefully we can go from there and take it onto the next step," he said.

"The move here was sorted out through my agent and I initially thought I was staying at QPR for the remainder of the season.

"But it was always the intention of Tottenham that if I could get a Premier League club then I would go to one instead. My agent told me 'Villa' and I was rubbing my hands really. It's a massive club and I'm just excited for the future.

"I enjoyed it at QPR and the fans were great down there. Hopefully I can take the next step and carry on my form up here and keep doing well."

Walker also admitted he was relieved to see the mood in the Villa camp has been upbeat even though results on the pitch have not gone to plan lately.

And the young defender is confident Villa possess the quality in their squad to get themselves out of trouble after dropping into the relegation zone with the 1-0 defeat to Sunderland.

"You always hope you can come in and add a positive vibe but the players in the changing room here already can do that," added Walker.

"It's still a top place here, I'm sure they'll get out of the situation they're in. It doesn't take me to come along to get them out of it, they've got enough character in there to do that for themselves.

"I was only here for a couple of hours and I could feel good vibes straight away from it. The dressing room has got enough characters to get out of this situation.

"And I doubt by the end of the season...in fact, I know by the end of the season they won't be in this situation.

"I'll put 100 per cent into every game that I go out and play. I play as if it's going to be my last game because you never know what's round the corner.

"I'm definitely here to do a job for Villa. I want to do a job here and I wouldn't have come here if I wasn't committed to doing that."

Walker is likely to come in at right-back but Villa are without striker Emile Heskey, who starts the first game of his three-match suspension for his sending off against Sunderland on Wednesday.