Aston Villa's Aussie youngster Chris Herd says his loan stints away last year helped his development.

Herd enjoyed successful temporary stints at Port Vale and Wycombe early on in his development, with another at Lincoln coming just two seasons ago, under the tutelage of former Villa striker Chris Sutton.

He told Villa's website: "Those loan deals helped me a lot. I can't underestimate their importance in my career so far. I went to Port Vale when I was 18. I was a young boy. People would say I'm still young now at 21 but that helped me gain that valuable experience, playing in that division.

"Going to Wycombe and Lincoln brought my game on too - a lot. It was a good experience and I'd recommend it to anyone coming through the ranks.

"I really feel like I've developed as a person and a human too through these years. You grow up and you find out who you are. You become more mature and you become more professional - with the way you go about your profession.

"You look after yourself away from the game, you work hard in training and give it your all. It makes you realise you have to live right and you have to live for football.

"Obviously you have to look after your body and the coaches taught us that from an early age in the academy. That helps you a lot.

"Someone else who helped me a lot when I was a young lad - and who is a player fans will remember - was Gavin McCann. He really was a role model when I was a kid here. He was great with me. He was always happy to stop and talk to me, offer me advice and that's great when you're a young player at a football club. That meant a lot.

"I was only 15 or 16. He was a good lad but also a top professional too."