Newcastle United academy chief Willie Donachie has heaped praise on Aston Villa over their promotion of young players.

Villa boss Paul Lambert took a big gamble backing his kids last season.

Donachie told the Evening Chronicle: "Clubs don't gamble with youngsters any more because the pressure to succeed is so great.

"Next season managers will get serious money to spend on players, which they will do rather than bringing through their own young talent.

"Aston Villa are the one Premier League club that have filled their team with home-grown players. They are a great example to everyone else.

"But for a while last season they looked like they would go down, because the team was so young, and that would have been a disaster.

"But maybe that's what needs to happen. Clubs might have to accept relegation if they have a long-term plan of producing their own players."