Former Aston Villa striker Tony Cascarino has heaped praise on one of the club's defenders.

Cascarino, who knows a thing or two about outstanding Villa players, praised Matty Cash this week.

The 26-year-old has been impressive this season, and Cascarino admires how Cash transitioned from being a winger in his younger days to a full-back.

Cascarino said, "I thought Matty Cash had a great game for Aston Villa against Brighton at full back.

"He's part of this modern trend of wingers turning into full backs. It never used to happen, but there have been quite a few recent examples.

"Ashley Young at Villa and Manchester United, of course, and Antonio Valencia, who used to be one of my favorite players. United signed him as a winger from Wigan but he turned into an outstanding full back.

"I can see why it works. As a full back you're up against the opposing winger, so you know what they are trying to do to you — you know when they're thinking of going inside you and when they're thinking of beating you down the line.

"And the difference now is work rates — from the 1990s onwards the game changed completely in terms of the athleticism expected. Wingers are expected to track back and support their full back so they've got the experience of it.

"Plus it lets you extend your career. Valencia played at United into his mid-thirties and Young is still going at 38, whereas the shelf life for a winger is often much shorter."