MILNER ENJOYING THE QUIET LIFE

JAMES MILNER is one of the Premier League's young veterans, not yet 24 but already THREE clubs and EIGHT managers into his career.

Now, after the madhouses of Elland Road and St James' Park, the Aston Villa midfielder has finally found an oasis of calm.

And he is convinced the lack of drama off the Villa Park pitch is a key element in the way he has developed into a serious contender for a World Cup place with England.

Milner explains: "There's quite a difference between the clubs I've played for. Aston Villa's a big club but it's not in a one-club city like Newcastle and Leeds.

"It's one of the big reasons why I feel more settled now. For one thing, I've actually started and finished the season with the same manager. And there's been nothing dramatic going on.

"There was the trouble at Leeds, the court cases, financial troubles.

"And at Newcastle there was always something going on.

"You try your best to get on with your football but when the manager is changing every five minutes, it doesn't make it easy.

"So now I'm enjoying being at a club which is run in the right way.

"A great owner, a great manager and they have a plan."

Contenders

Clearly, that plan is to secure a Champions League place. It looked a distinct possibility this time last year but a dramatic slump in the second half of the campaign extinguished those hopes.

Milner believes Villa have learned from that experience. And that the emergence of Manchester City and Spurs as fellow contenders for that fourth place slot will actually work in their favour.

He says: "There's a lot of competition now for the Champions League places.

"City have spent a lot of money and Spurs are doing well so hopefully that has taken a bit of the spotlight off us, and we can get in through the back door."

After making his debut for Leeds at 16, Milner witnessed turbulent times at his home- town club and then at Newcastle, who went through four bosses during his spell there.

But now he is settled under Martin O'Neill.

"The manager here gives you a lot of confidence," says Milner. "He trusts you, gives you the freedom to make decisions.

"If me and Ashley Young think it might be worth swapping sides during a game he is fine with that. As long as we do our jobs, he lets us try and do different things."

Milner has certainly been doing his job and now even appears to be ahead of David Beckham in Fabio Capello's pecking order.

For the World Cup qualifier in Ukraine, Milner made the bench while Beckham was left in the stands.

It came after he had made a big impact as a second- half substitute in Amsterdam, helping England recover from 2-0 down to earn a draw in the friendly against Holland.

But Milner, who had a long Under-21 career, is not taking anything for granted.

He says: "It's one thing to get in the squad now and again, another to be a regular in it and then another to be pushing for a regular place in the team."

Milner is promoting a new Nike boot. But it's fair to say the glamour side of the game does not appeal to him.

He says: "People don't recognise me as much as other players maybe but that's down to what you choose to do.

"There's no right or wrong way - it's just the way you are. I just like to keep myself to myself."

Now he has found quiet and contentment at a club that isn't run along soap opera lines, he can do just that.

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