Midfielder Carlos Sanchez believes that his experience with the Colombian national team will help him in his growth with Aston Villa.

Villa pulled off a major coup by landing the services of Sanchez during the summer and the midfielder has gone on to become an important part of the Midlands' side - despite their poor campaign so far.

Sanchez now momentarily has the opportunity to put the relegation fight with Villa on the back burner as he has joined up with the Colombian side for their upcoming friendlies against Bahrain and Kuwait, and the midfielder has stated that such outings with the national team will help him in his progression as a player for Villa.

"Individually I have grown a lot because of the experience that I have acquired with the national team," said the Colombian.

"That will continue to be the case whenever I play. The World Cup (where Colombia were knocked out by Brazil in the quarter-finals) was a marvellous and unforgettable experience.

"It helped me grow as we lived some extraordinary moments as a group. I feel it myself in the way that I play now. There is a progression from how I played before."