Aston Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez has hinted they'll miss Michael Beale after he was named QPR manager.

Beale's exit from Villa Park would have come as a blow to manager Steven Gerrard and the first-team more generally, as goalkeeper Martinez has previously explained that his role was much more than simply being an understudy to the manager.

Martinez said: "It's the first time in 14 to 15 years of my career that the assistant coach does all the talking, Michael Beale. He knows so much about football, it's just incredible. He does all the training sessions, he takes all the important meetings, obviously Stevie G talks too.

"In every club, the manager does all the talking and the assistant helps.

"With Michael, we felt him and Stevie G are both the managers."