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Scott Hogan's Birmingham City career has got off to the perfect start.

Three goals in three starts helping Blues to three wins. It's a massive departure from his troubled time at Aston Villa.

Since signing from Brentford in January 2017, Hogan has been plagued by injuries which have limited his impact.

With only seven goals in two years his time at Villa Park has so far been a disappointment. It might even be over.

We take a look at his career so far.

THE BEGINNING

Hogan was born in Salford on April 13 1992.

He was a schoolboy at Everton for two years and had a series of failed trials at Manchester United.

As a teenager he was studying for a BTEC Sport qualification at Salford City College when he was invited to join Rochdale, but left before he made a first team appearance.

He was only earning £30 a week expenses and because his mates away from football were earning much more, he admitted losing focus and passing up a chance to prove himself and earn a professional contract at Spotland.

THE FACTORY FLOOR

After leaving Rochdale he found work in the real world, combining his jobs with part-time non league football.

“I worked in warehouses, order picking, in a chemical factory – it got to the stage where I would try to fit in two half-hour toilet breaks just to break the day up!" Hogan told the Independent.

“I just don’t want to go back to a 9-5 job,” Hogan said. “I have done it before and I don’t want to do it again.

“I never want to do it again, which is why I will always fight for everything I have got in football.

THE FOOTBALL

Hogan made a name for himself in non league. He was at Halifax, but found himself in the shadow of a certain Jamie Vardy.

Stocksbridge Park Steels, another of Vardy's former clubs, was a place where Hogan also furthered his reputation as a goalscorer, and he had spells at Woodley Sports, Mossley, Ashton United and Hyde.

His goal exploits caught the eye of Rochdale boss Keith Hill again and after some umming and aahing, the Spotland boss gave him a fresh chance.

It paid off. In 2013-14, Hogan scored 19 goals in 40 appearances for Dale, including his first, 14 minutes into his debut, a 3-0 win over Hartlepool United in League Two.

THE INJURIES

Many clubs were taking notice of him by now, including Hull City, who were then managed by Steve Bruce.

While others hesitated, Brentford's Mark Warburton swooped for him in the summer of 2014, snapping him up for a reported £750,000.

Hogan's pre season was disrupted by an ankle injury and it was to get worse.

After coming on as a 67th minute substitute in a 2-0 Championship win at Rotherham (his second cameo after a cup debut), he lasted just 16 minutes, sustaining anterior cruciate ligament damage to his left knee.

He had surgery in September 2014, but experienced further agony the following April when he snagged his foot in the turf in training, suffering the same injury again and going under the knife for a second time.

THE COMEBACK

Hogan has spoken of his gratitude for the support Brentford gave him during his injury ordeal, twice sending him to Philadelphia to recover with with conditioning coach Bill Knowles as well as offering him a contract extension.

“Brentford offered me an extra year when I first did my knee, to make up for the year I had lost,” he said.

“They have looked after me, sent me to Philadelphia twice for treatment and paid for me to go away. I haven’t had to use my own money, so I do feel a big debt to them.

He eventually returned to action after an 18-month lay-off in March 2016 and scored seven goals in four matches at the back end of the 2015-16 season, including three braces.

Hogan rattled in 14 goals for Dean Smith's team before Villa came knocking.

WHO WANTED HIM

Hogan, as is the case with most goalscorers, has been in demand.

When he was at Hyde, he had a trial with Blues then managed by Lee Clark, just before he joined Rochdale.

Peterborough had a bid accepted for him while he was at Rochdale and Leeds United also expressed an interest in him, but he stayed put until the Brentford move materialised.

In January before Villa landed him, he looked set to join West Ham, but the Hammers gave up after a series of rejected bids, while West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace also made late enquiries.

HIS TIME AT VILLA

It just never quite happened for Hogan at Villa.

In his first half season with the club, he managed a solitary goal as Villa finished in mid table.

His second season was blighted by injuries, but he did manage to string some performances in the second half campaign.

Of course that campaign would end in heartbreak for Hogan and Villa when they lost the Wembley playoff final to Fulham.

Once his old Brentford boss Smith came to Villa Park many felt that would finally ignite his career in B6.

But unfortunately for him and fortunately for Villa, Tammy Abraham has become simply undroppable.

Even Smith, the man who made him what he is, was unable to be the catalyst for his revival.

WHAT BRUCE SAID

"What attracted me to him is that journey he's had, like Jamie Vardy.

"It's one of those were he's had it tough, it didn't go his way when he was younger, he thought his way was blocked.

"He had to go down to non league and work his way back up. Even when he is doing well and goes to Brentford he has to recover from a serious knee injury.

"This year he's been terrific and I think hell be a big favourite of the supporters. He's quick, dynamic and is a good finisher."

WHAT SMITH SAID

"It’s been difficult for Scott to get pitch time because of how Tammy has been doing. I know it was only 10 minutes but, I tell you what, he was unfortunate not to score at Middlesbrough.

"That’s the Scott Hogan that I had at Brentford and hopefully that can continue. If anything happens to Tammy with injury then I know I’ve got a bright Scott Hogan who’s certainly on the leash at the moment wanting to play.

WHAT CLOTET SAID

"I told him I don’t know the Scott Hogan from Aston Villa and I don’t know the Scott Hogan from Stoke but I really know very well the Scott Hogan from Brentford and that’s the one we are bringing in.

(Image: TIM EASTHOPE/BIRMINGHAM MAIL)

"We believe massively. He is only going to get better the more confident he gets.

"The whole team is backing him, he works very hard and I have the feeling he has a little bit of a point to prove that will give him extra motivation."

SIBLING RIVALRY

Hogan's brother Liam is also a footballer. He is a central defender for Salford City in the National League North.

The pair played non league football together for Woodley Sports and Halifax.

Liam, who is three years older than Scott, said: "I had the physical advantage and I'd always go around telling everyone I was the better player, as you do.

"I think that helped him rise to the challenge. If I beat him in a penalty shoot out or keepie uppie competition, he'd get working so that he could beat me back."

They made their Football League debuts - Scott for Rochdale, Liam for Fleetwood Town - on the same afternoon, August 3 2013.

Their parents tend to alternate, watching one brother one week and the other the next.