Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert has hailed the influence of assistant manager Ian Culverhouse on player recruitment.

Lambert admits his No2 was key to signing Ashley Westwood last summer.

"My assistant boss Ian Culverhouse has a real eye for a player. If he reckons we should go for someone I will back his judgement 100 per cent.

"I remember Ian saying a few years back 'there's a lad at Crewe you should keep your eye on'. Ashley has been fantastic for us," Lambert told the Birmingham Mail.