Delaney suffered the low point of his career when he was shown the door by United as a 15-year-old - because he
     wasn't tall enough. 

     He has gone on to prove that size isn't everything via a spell working in a woollen mill, playing part-time for Carmarthen
     Town and then with Cardiff City. 

     He moved to Villa last season in a £500,000 transfer after just 28 games for the Bluebirds and has proved to be one of
     manager John Gregory's best value-for-money signings. 

     This season he has been chosen ahead of £4million signing Steve Watson in the first team and last week won his first full
     cap for Wales against Switzerland. 

     Looking ahead to the cup clash at Villa Park, Delaney said: ``It might be seen as a chance for me to prove a point, but I am
     not that kind of person. I will be going into the match simply to play my best and to try and get Villa into the next round. 

     ``We want to get back into Europe this season, and this is a route for us. That's a reason why I'd really like to beat United. 

     ``We'd like to make it back as a top-six side, but this competition offers another opportunity.'' 

     Delaney has no regrets or hard feelings about his time at Old Trafford and said: ``United was a great experience, a great
     way to learn. I had two years with them and I played abroad in a couple of tournaments. 

     ``They have the cream of the country's talent at their training schools - but it does mean they have to let a lot of people go.

     ``I didn't grow very quickly in my teenage years, and that was a drawback for me. The kind of centre-halves and
     wing-backs United were looking at were all very tall - in the six feet bracket. 

     ``I was only 5ft 4in tall, and that was one of the main reasons why they let me go.'' 

     It hit the youngster hard at the time too, and he admitted: ``I was down for a long time after United let me go but fortunately
     I really shot up in my late teens. 

     ``I'm over the disappointment of that, particularly because Villa have now given me the chance to make it as a Premiership
     player. 

     ``But that doesn't stop me wanting to beat them - especially because I've always been more of a Liverpool fan.'' 

     Delaney believes the Worthington Cup may be of more importance to United during the current campaign than in previous
     years. 

     He said: ``They are not in the FA Cup, so maybe they might be taking the league cup more seriously this season. 

     ``But even if they do put out a squad of young players they are still going to be tough to beat. 

     ``United players hate losing at any level. You should have seen the look on their faces when we beat them in a reserve
     match earlier this season.'' 

     Villa manager John Gregory will check on the fitness of goalkeeper David James (knee) and defender Alan Wright (groin)
     before finalising his line-up.

Carling Net