Aston Villa winger James Milner admits he's happy to be back at the club after missing out on a move from Newcastle two years ago.

The ex-Leeds player said: "That was a really tough time for me and for Villa as well. It obviously threw their plans into turmoil.

"The fee was all agreed and I came down here to the Villa training ground, got into the manager's office and then he said he had received a phone call to say Newcastle had changed their mind.

"At first I didn't know if it was the manager's humour and whether he was joking with me - but it wasn't a joke. The best way I know is to get my head down and work hard. I went back to Newcastle and did as well as I could.

"What happened two years ago is now in the past and it is how you react to those sort of things. You learn from that and you move on and, two years later, I am sure I am a stronger character and a better player for those experiences."