Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish is a big fan of Sunderland midfielder Sebastian Larsson.

McLeish revealed he tried to sign winger Sebastian Larsson in the summer but the Swede joined Sunderland rather than Villa.

In-form Larsson played for Eck at Birmingham and the Scot admitted: "I tried to get him in the window but Sunderland were too far down the road.

"Seb is a brilliant bloke and a fantastic professional. We just got there too late."