The England international is looking forward to the new Premier League season as he prepares for his first full campaign At Villa Park. Martin O'Neill recruited the 25-year-old during last summer's transfer window for £12million whilst he was still recuperating from a broken foot. The left-sided player eventually entered the fray in mid-November and went on to earn mixed reviews from his debut season but now Downing is relishing a full pre-season programme. He told the Express & Star: "It is just good to get the start of a good pre-season under my belt because last season I missed six or seven months, including the whole of pre-season. It is nice being among the lads from the off. "I think it helps to get a pre-season under your belt because if you miss a lot of the football and the running, you are playing catch-up, which I was when I came back. "The pleasing thing was I came through the injury and didn't get any setbacks. This time I have joined the lads from day one, I'm feeling quite fit and started quite well with the running. "Hopefully I'll have a good pre-season, get a few games under my belt and hopefully you will see the best of me."
