Played for both: Aston Villa v West Brom FA Cup special

Gardner, Richardson, Sinclair. No, it’s not one of those legal firms that thinks you may be entitled to compensation, but a hat-trick of names who could turn out against their former clubs in the FA Cup quarter-final between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion.

Coral make Tim Sherwood’s side, who beat the Baggies 2-1 in Premier League action as recently as Tuesday, narrow 8/5 favourites for victory again, and 10/1 shots to record that precise scoreline once more.

That aforementioned trio are not alone in having played for both Villa and Albion, with the likes of current Hull City captain Curtis Davies, Kevin Phillips and Liam Ridgewell also doing so in recent years.

Ahead of the cup clash, our football experts profile this threesome, what they offered to their previous employers and will they be a thorn in their old teammates’ sides?

Craig Gardner
A central midfielder by trade, Villa academy graduate Gardner has also done a job down the right-hand side of football pitches for Birmingham City and Sunderland. He returned to the West Midlands last summer, arriving at The Hawthorns on a free transfer.

Since returning to the Second City, Gardner, who has an eye for spectacular strikes, has already come back to haunt Villa, netting the sole goal of a 1-0 Baggies home win back in December. He is a 6/1 shot to net again anytime, while West Brom are 7/4 for an away victory.

Relive another incredible Gardner goal, in the FA Cup for Sunderland against Southampton in February 2014, below:

Kieran Richardson
Left-footer Richardson (8/1 in the anytime market here) was sent off as Albion beat Villa at The Hawthorns before Christmas. He helped the Baggies amazingly avoid relegation under Bryan Robson during a loan spell in 2005, even though they started the final day of that season propping up the Premier League table.