Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish has traveled to the USA to hold talks with Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur during the Premier League break.
The Villa boss is keen to compare notes with the NFL franchise regarding a variety of issues including fitness training regimes, recruiting/scouting and rehab for injuries.
"Not for Alex. He is keen to do everything he can to push Villa forward.
"Alex is always looking for any advantage he can get and he felt this was an ideal opportunity to exchange ideas with his American counterparts at the Browns.""When the fixture schedule allows for a break, such as this upcoming weekend, some managers may take time off to refresh ahead of the busy run to follow," said Villa chief executive Paul Faulkner.
McLeish will be joined by assistant Peter Grant, fitness coach Adrian Lamb, Dr Ian McGuinness and performance analyst Patrick Riley in Cleveland.
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