Manchester United assistant boss Mike Phelan has praised the performance of Aston Villa this season.

He told manutd.com: "As well as the top three there are other teams who could throw a spanner in the works along the way - Aston Villa are having a fantastic time at the moment. This season is interesting because teams from outside the top four are taking points from everybody, so it's not as clear cut as it is when two teams run away with it. Between now and the end of the season there'll be some surprises, and they can come from any team in the league."

Has that made this season more enjoyable?

"Yes. Every game is a challenge and we can't afford to relax. It went all the way last year - nobody is going to run away with this league. We just have to make sure that when the big games come, we're prepared to put in that little extra in order to win the game."