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Chris Herd is set to return to contention for Aston Villa in the new season - after his dad jetted over from Australia to help him overcome his personal issues.

Herd was unavailable for the final three months of last term, but his father Willie, a former professional with Falkirk and Partick Thistle, has been training him at Bodymoor Heath.

In recent months, in a bid to get Herd’s career back on track, 54-year-old Willie has put Herd through his paces at a Birmingham park before stepping up the work at the training ground.

Herd, who has scored two goals in 36 starts and six substitute appearances for Villa, is entering the final year of his contract.

“Chris is looking lean and hungry and, after all the injuries over the past couple of years, it’s almost like him starting from scratch again,” said Herd senior.

“He obviously had an issue with the club last year but that has been sorted and he is looking forward, rather than back.

“Villa gave us the run of their facilities and we worked on a lot of things, from general fitness to ball work.

“I’ve kept up with the coaching side of things since quitting the game as a player and I wanted to do my bit to pass on what I know to help Chris hit the ground running in what is a big season for his career.

“We started off training at just a local park in Birmingham and then headed to Villa’s training base. He also did gym work and pool work.

“Football is a marathon and not a sprint and for Chris it will now all be about maturity kicking in.

“In the past he’s sometimes been a bit over eager to impress and has been playing at a 100 miles an hour.

“My message has been about pacing himself more and channelling his aggression a little bit. Maybe a case of using his head as much as his body to make things happen on the pitch.”

Herd senior is convinced his 25-year-old son can kickstart his career for club and country after being restricted to just two Villa appearances last season and missing out on a potential World Cup call up with the Socceroos.

He played in the December defeats at Fulham and Stoke, but was not considered for selection because of “personal issues” following Villa’s return from warm weather training in Portugal in February.

Australia coach Ange Postecoglou met Herd in Birmnigham and called him up for an international friendly against Ecuador in March, but the utility player was forced to withdraw from the squad.

“The message to him when he met Ange was that if he was playing he would have been involved in pre-World Cup camp but it wasn’t to be,” said Herd senior.

“The most important thing for him is do well for his club and make up for lost time. If that happens, I can’t see why Ange won’t look at him again.

“I think there’s a lot more to come from him in terms of development. He won’t reach his peak for another three years and he still has a lot to learn.

“Hopefully, given the opportunity, he will take it again, as he did three seasons back.

“It’s all about getting games under his belt and I think you will see a much improved player emerge.

“He’s had some bad luck with injuries. Basically one after another. It’s incredible.”