PETER CROUCH has said he is determined to prove David O'Leary and his other Aston Villa doubters wrong about his ability as a Premiership goalscorer.

Despite being signed for Villa by Graham Taylor in a £5m deal in 2002, Crouch was regularly frozen out of the side under O'Leary before Saints snapped him up for what now appears to be a bargain price of £2m last summer.

The 6ft 7ins striker only managed six goals in his two-year spell at Villa Park, but was limited to just 20 league starts and 17 substitute appearances in his time there.

Since leaving the midlands club for St Mary's, Crouch has blossomed, scoring nine league goals in just nine starts and 14 substitute appearances.

The 24-year-old's total of 13 league and cup goals this season is the same amount as the combined tally of Villa's four main strikers, most of who were preferred to Crouch by O'Leary, pictured.

Juan Pablo Angel has scored eight, Darius Vassell three, Carlton Cole two and Luke Moore one.

Although Crouch holds no grudges against Villa, he could not hide his frustration about being left out of the side, regardless of what his form was like at the time.

He said: "The most frustrating thing while I was up there was knowing that, even if I did well, if someone was fit the next week I'd be out.

"I remember scoring two goals at Leicester and not playing the next week which was frustrating, but that's football and it's all about opinions.

"But like I say, I'm looking towards the future and I'm really enjoying it here."

Under O'Leary, it eventually got to the stage where Crouch realised that he was never likely to see first-team action again.

He said: "I didn't think I was going to play. It's one of those things. He just fancied other players and that was the way it was and Angel had a great season that year so that was one of those things."

Crouch added: "It was frustrating, because I felt I had warranted chances when I came into the side.

"I was scoring goals towards the end of last season and playing well, but as soon as someone came back from injury they were straight in the side.

"But that's one of those things, I've got no grudges and I'm really enjoying my time here now obviously."

Despite his difficult time at Villa, Crouch admits that he was extremely determined to prove to Saints when he joined them that he was capable of being a Premiership goalscorer.

He said: "When people are knocking you and saying you're not going to be a Premiership player, it spurs you on to become one.

"I always felt confident James Beattie would leave in January and I'd get my chance - and when it came, I had to take it.

"Middlesbrough was the first game and I felt I had to prove to the manager that you don't need to sign anyone else to replace James and hopefully I've proved that."