Aston Villa wing-back Kieran Richardson is delighted to be working with former Manchester United teammate Roy Keane.
Richardson, 29, signed for Villa in the summer to link up once more with Keane, who is assistant manager at Villa Park.
The two worked together at Sunderland in 2008.
Richardson said: "That season when I signed for Sunderland I only played about 10 games because I had a hairline fracture in my spine.
"Throughout that season I was very upset and I put on a lot of weight and I got bigger. But just before the end Roy took me into his office and we had a massive conversation.
"He inspired me to go away in the summer and come back in better shape than I had ever been in. I went and played very well the following season.
"He gave me some strong words of encouragement to go and do that and I will always appreciate it. A lot of people don't know him on a personal level but he definitely has that side to him."
