Conor Hourihane exclusive: This season at Aston Villa is one on which we'll all be judged

Now he is aiming to complete the journey to the top flight with Villa this season.

The midfielder arrived from Barnsley last January with a reputation as one of the Championship’s most exciting talents.

And while he points to the time it has taken to get settled in his new surroundings as being the main factor behind the ‘stop-start’ nature of his Villa career so far, Hourihane knows from now on there can be no more excuses.

Speaking exclusively to the Express & Star at the club’s pre-season training camp in the Algarve, he said: “From January to the summer, you might say, was my bedding-in period.

“But ultimately now I will be judged on this season and so will the squad. Everyone is in the firing line, not just myself. It is up to me as an individual and us as a team to produce.”

At the age of 25, Hourihane has every right to believe the best years of his career lie ahead. Yet he is also in many regards an old head on young shoulders, with more than 250 league appearances already to his name after a journey which has taken him from the very fringes of the professional game.

“I have probably gone about it the hard way,” he smiles.

Born and raised in Cork, Hourihane was also a keen Gaelic football and rugby player before being snapped up by Sunderland’s academy at the age of 16.

But he did not make a first-team appearance, either on Wearside or during a one-year stay at Ipswich Town, ahead of joining Plymouth Argyle as a free agent in the summer of 2011.

The Pilgrims had just suffered successive relegations, were in administration and barely had enough players on the books to form a team.

And while that meant playing time was all but guaranteed, some of the other things most professionals take for granted, including getting paid on time, were not.

“I think it was about the first five or six months we were not getting paid, it was tough,” says Hourihane.

“When I signed, I think there were seven players at the club. They brought in about 13 new players, a couple of us worked and a handful didn’t.

“I was fortunate to have an opportunity to play in the league. That is how I saw it.

“With only seven or eight players I knew I would have a great chance to play. Others might have thought ‘what the hell am I doing here?’ but not me.

“Thankfully it worked out and it has made me the person and player I am today.”

Hourihane may be softly-spoken but he is also a leader, captaining the Pilgrims during his three-year stay in Devon and then taking the armband after moving to Barnsley, where he helped the Tykes climb back into the Championship via the League One play-offs in 2016.

Joining Villa, Hourihane acknowledges, was a big step and he is also quick to accept he will begin the season still with something to prove.

“It has been stop-start so far and there was an element last season of trying to find my feet,” he said.

“It was a big step up for myself in terms of size of club and the team wasn’t flying at the time so it was hard to bed in and settle in.

“I had a couple of good games but some poor ones as well.

“But I have got myself settled in an area I like now, over the summer. That took a while to get going.

“I think I have bedded in well now with the lads too.”

The aim for the season ahead barely needs mentioning. Nothing less than promotion to the Premier League will suffice.

“When me and a few other lads signed in January it was maybe a little too late to go for a push,” he said.

“Everyone was looking to do that but it fizzled out. This time we need to hit the ground running from the off and cement a push to get promoted. That is what we have to do this year.

“Lads mention it here and there but everyone knows that is the focus and the goal. We all feel the same.”

Promotion would also mean the completion of sorts for Hourihane’s own personal journey, though he is not the type to ever be satisfied with simply playing in the Premier League.

The past six months have also delivered senior international recognition with the Republic of Ireland but Hourihane wants more.

“It’s every boy’s dream to represent their country and luckily I have been able to do that,” he said.

“But I am not happy with just getting a couple, you always want more and more. Playing for a successful team should help that.

“I have gone from the bottom to edging toward the top, I would suppose you would say.

“I have worked hard in League Two and League One and put some hard graft in when only a couple of thousand people are watching.

“It has all stood me in good stead and makes me appreciate being here more at this age.

“It’s not bad to be a late developer. Hopefully the best years are ahead of me.”