And for the second time this season he's hoping to emerge as top of the stops.

Turner and Ridgewell were both part of a successful Villacourt Rovers side which won silverware galore in London's youth leagues in the 1990s.

Over the years their careers have taken them in very different directions - Ridgewell snapped up by Aston Villa as a youth before moving to City; Turner having to work his way up via Brentford and Hull.

But tomorrow they will line up against each other for the second time in barely a month as the Black Cats travel to St Andrew's.

Turner was on the winning side as he helped Sunderland keep a clean sheet in the 2-0 Carling Cup win against Ridgewell's Blues at the Stadium of Light a month ago, and he is aiming for another shut-out at St Andrew's.

"I know Liam well from our days playing Sunday football when we were kids," smiled Turner.

"We've lost touch over the years, but I was pleased to be on the winning side against him in the cup last month, and hopefully I will be tomorrow and keep a clean sheet in the process.

"We played for Villacourt Rovers, who are based in Blackheath where I grew up, from the age of about 10 or 11.

"We had a great team in those days - we won league titles, the London Cup and all sorts.

"I was always a centre-back and Liam was a left winger then, but of course he is now a centre-back too.

"I think Liam got picked up by West Ham early on and then he went to Aston Villa at 16 or 17 whereas I went a longer route!

"I spoke to him after the cup game last month and I'm sure I'll speak to him again after the game tomorrow - hopefully I'll be in just as good a mood again."