Aston Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell says the year he spent working with Chelsea's Frank Lampard has made him a better player.

"A lot of fans tell me I am a Chelsea reject but the year I had there I wouldn't change for the world," Sidwell, who signed for Villa in a £5million deal, told the Mirror.

"Although it didn't work out how I wanted it to, I have gained in other areas surrounded by leading players which can go a long way to help my career.

"I knew Frank was a fantastic player but being that close to him for a year, I have to say he is the best professional I have worked with by an absolute mile.

"The day I left I spoke to him and said: 'It has been a pleasure to be with you this year' as I picked up a lot of stuff off him.

"I learnt a lot from him like his positional play - where he is around the pitch, his passing, his vision and his fitness. He was great at timing his runs, which is the most important thing because if you time your run to perfection you have a golden opportunity to score.

"Every day in training you got 110 per cent out of Frank which is impressive. You look at players on extraordinary amounts of money and some ease off.

"But even now Frank has signed his new deal he is still putting in extra performances which is what makes him a top player."