Aston Villa's story is so unbelievable, a fiction writer wouldn't want to pen it. They've had more ups and downs than a roller coaster at Alton Towers this season, but they now appear to be heading one way only. Up.

They gave a promotion rival a bloody nose this weekend, not for the first time since Dean Smith took over. The manner in which they brushed aside Middlesbrough will alarm many and surprise even more. Derby County won't be surprised though, they were handed a similar beating a few weeks ago.

This weekend, Glenn Whelan managed to make an impression, not for the first time this season. He missed a penalty against Preston which ultimately resulted in Steve Bruce's sacking, that alone made him popular at Villa Park.

This weekend he made an impression in the right way, which is why we're shining a spotlight on the Irish international.

The 34-year-old isn't the type of player who would immediately appear to be a key figure at Villa, with the embarrassment of riches they have in the centre of the park he'll only ever be a gap filler. This weekend's performance proved that when he does fill a gap, he's more than adequate.

He scored, it was only his second goal for Villa and only his tenth in a decade of football. He doesn't get forward and have a dig very often, but his one shot this weekend resulted in one goal, one of the three that downed Tony Pulis' Boro.

He turned in a decent midfield performance on the whole, making an interception and a decent clearance too, but one thing Whelan has always done is move the ball well.

He made 17 passes, 88% of which found the feet of a teammate. With the fast wide players Villa have, the midfield man really only has to deliver the ball to the right people to be successful.

Glenn Whelan won't be a regular for Villa, but when he is called upon he's proven he can be an integral part of their method.