Matthew Lowton admits fellow summer signing Ron Vlaar has quickly established himself as a leader at Aston Villa.

Lowton believes Vlaar is perfectly equipped to step into shoes vacated in recent years by other heroes of Villa's back line, Olof Mellberg and Martin Laursen.

"He has been telling me where to go and and I've just accepted it to be honest because he's a big man and I don't want to cross him," the 23-year-old told the Express & Star.

"But he's a fantastic defender and he has fitted in straight away. Ron's got good English and he's always talking because he's an experienced international.

"He's pulled me about and got me in position and things like that. When you go on the pitch, he'll talk and he'll command the back four.

"I'm sure with the respect we've got for him then everything will come together and the clean sheets will come."