Editing James Milner (section)

====Loan to Aston Villa====
A clause in Newcastle's purchase of [[Nolberto Solano]] from Aston Villa resulted in Milner being loaned to Villa for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghampost.net/news/local-news/solano-out-milner-in-3990942 |title=Solano out, Milner in |date=1 September 2005 |website=Birmingham Post |access-date=16 May 2019 |archive-date=7 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607202732/https://www.business-live.co.uk/news/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Villa manager [[David O'Leary]], who had managed Milner at Leeds, was happy to acquire Milner in this deal, saying that he believed Villa got the better of the deal and that he hoped to improve Milner as a player.<ref>{{cite web |last=Pearson |first=James |title=O'Leary happy with Nobby deal |website=Sky Sports |date=1 September 2005 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2347428,00.html |access-date=29 July 2007 |archive-date=8 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208035104/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2347428,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Buckingham |first=Mark |title=O'Leary to improve Milner |website=Sky Sports |date=1 September 2005 |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/2347843/oleary-to-improve-milner |access-date=29 July 2007 |archive-date=21 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121181922/http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11677/2347843/oleary-to-improve-milner |url-status=live}}</ref> He made his Villa debut on 12 September 2005 in a Premier League match against West Ham United.<ref name="Villa">{{cite web |url=https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2011/05/29/transfer-window-rewind-villas-great-eight-of-2005 |title=Transfer window rewind: Villa's great eight of 2005 |publisher=Aston Villa F.C. |first=Paul |last=Brown |date=29 May 2011 |access-date=22 April 2021 |archive-date=4 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904110758/https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2011/05/29/transfer-window-rewind-villas-great-eight-of-2005 |url-status=live}}</ref> Five days later, he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.<ref name="Villa"/> In a [[EFL Cup|League Cup]] match less than a week later, he helped his team recover from being 3–1 down at half-time to win 8–3 against [[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]], scoring two goals in the second-half comeback.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/4258542.stm |title=Wycombe 3–8 Aston Villa |date=20 September 2005 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=16 May 2019 |archive-date=2 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102041956/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/4258542.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> Throughout the season, Milner was positive about his team. He remained confident that Villa would recover from a poor start to the season and praised the quality of the squad.<ref name=team>{{cite news |last=Buckingham |first=Mark |title=Milner upbeat for Villa |website=Sky Sports |date=4 October 2005 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2350606,00.html |access-date=29 July 2007 |archive-date=13 September 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913064444/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2350606,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Milner was generally seen as a positive signing in a season that was disappointing for Villa.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rutledge |first=Lewis |title=O'Leary joy at Milner return |website=Sky Sports |date=14 April 2006 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2373489,00.html |access-date=30 July 2007 |archive-date=8 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208035252/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2373489,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Milner himself also received the loan move positively, saying that he would like to join Villa permanently because of the probability of becoming a regular starter, but said that the possibility of this happening was beyond his control.<ref>{{cite web |last=Buckingham |first=Mark |title=Milner waits on future |website=Sky Sports |date=24 December 2005 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2358774,00.html |access-date=30 July 2007 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304055851/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2358774,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Manager David O'Leary confirmed during the season that he would like Milner to join the club permanently, but doubted he would be given the opportunity to sign him.<ref>{{cite web |last=Livie |first=Alex |title=O'Leary expects to lose Milner |website=Sky Sports |date=24 November 2005 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2355212,00.html |access-date=30 July 2007 |archive-date=8 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208035314/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2355212,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> He even pulled out of signing [[Robert Huth]] so that he would have the funds to sign Milner permanently if the opportunity arose.<ref>{{cite web |last=Buckingham |first=Mark |title=Villa out of Huth chase |website=Sky Sports |date=23 December 2005 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_2358958,00.html |access-date=30 July 2007 |archive-date=8 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208035321/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11668_2358958,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

The newly appointed Newcastle manager [[Glenn Roeder]] appeared to appreciate Milner's ability more than Souness and expressed a desire that he remain a Newcastle player.<ref>{{cite web |title=Glenn Roeder has again said that James Milner's future lies at St James' Park |website=fansfc.com |date=27 June 2006 |url=http://www.fansfc.com/newcastlefootballclub/news.asp?newsid=154475 |access-date=26 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709163408/http://www.fansfc.com/newcastlefootballclub/news.asp?newsid=154475 |archive-date=9 July 2006}}</ref> This, as well as the departure of O'Leary and the shortage of transfer funds at Villa, meant that a deal to sign Milner permanently seemed unlikely.<ref>{{cite news |title=Milner move to Villa is in doubt |website=BBC Sport |date=22 May 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5003814.stm |access-date=17 October 2007 |archive-date=2 January 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102223713/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5003814.stm |url-status=live}}</ref> In June, it became even less likely when Villa rejected an offer of Milner as part of a trade for [[Gareth Barry]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Jackson |first=Phil |title=Villa no to Barry-Milner swap |website=Sky Sports |date=14 June 2006 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2380236,00.html |access-date=30 July 2007 |archive-date=5 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505224248/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2380236,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the deal was resurrected when Villa were taken over by American billionaire [[Randy Lerner]], and [[Martin O'Neill]] was appointed as new manager.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/2006/08/14/lerner-villa-soccer-cx_cn_0814autofacescan01.html?sh=22b1c5a826b6 |title=Aston Villa Approves Billionaire's Takeover |website=Forbes |date=14 August 2006 |access-date=24 May 2021 |archive-date=24 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524175525/https://www.forbes.com/2006/08/14/lerner-villa-soccer-cx_cn_0814autofacescan01.html?sh=22b1c5a826b6 |url-status=live}}</ref> A move to Villa appeared to have been agreed, but at the last moment Newcastle recalled Milner and the talks broke down.<ref name=Roeder>{{cite news |last=Buckingham |first=Mark |title=Roeder backs Milner stance |website=Sky Sports |date=31 August 2006 |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2388251,00.html |access-date=11 August 2007 |archive-date=8 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208035338/http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11677_2388251,00.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=O'Neill upset over Milner episode |website=BBC Sport |date=1 September 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5306302.stm |access-date=17 October 2007 |archive-date=11 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911090030/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/5306302.stm |url-status=live}}</ref>