Aston Villa latest: Including Bent and an apology to the club

Aston Villa players appear to be coming out in numbers in their support of boss Paul Lambert and his vision for the club. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan has proclaimed his excitement at the foundations being laid to ensure that “something special” is on the horizon at Villa Park. “There's a changing of the guard, if you will - in terms of bringing in younger players. We want to win games and move our way up the table and have a good year this year obviously.”

"Ultimately it's going to pay off in a few years down the road. It's not a one-year plan and let's go off, we want to build something special.”

Winger Marc Albrighton has also jumped on the Lambert bandwagon, claiming that it’s impossible not be excited by what the team can learn from a European Cup Winner. Albrighton also reveals that Lambert still possesses some of the qualities that helped him play at the highest level when joining in training. "The gaffer joins in a few sessions and you can see the touch is still there. It's only his pace that's not there. He reckons he had me in his pocket the other day. That was good fun."

Echoing the influence that the Scot has had around Villa Park, Gabby Agbonlahor has reinforced the pleasure at seeing a youthful glow about the club. The lightening quick striker has no doubts that Lamberts lower league signings will have no problem stepping up to Premier League standard, singling out Matthew Lowton and Ashley Westwood for particular praise, “Someone like Matthew Lowton has just come in and looked as if he has played 30 or 40 games.”

“Ashley Westwood has come in to training and not looked out of place, he’s done really well and not looked different to any other player in the squad.

Keen to calm any Villa Fan fears, regarding a January departure of Darren Bent, the club has announced that there is no rift between the record signing and the manger. “There is not a problem. The manager has explained why he has not selected Darren for the last two games and has said his door is open if the player wants to discuss the matter.”

Finally Charles Green, Glasgow Rangers chief executive, seems to realise that his verbal assault on Aston Villa was bang out of order. In a discussion, concerning the potential set up of a European League, the intellectually stupid Scot had managed to insult Aston Villa by saying, “How can Manchester United’s revenues be £320m and Aston Villa, who are completely useless, get £250m?” The buffoon has since written a letter of apology to Villa, claiming no offence was meant. I’m sure most Villa fans would prefer a retraction of the apology in place of a ‘Villa Vs Rangers’ match up… then we’d see who is “useless?”