Aston Villa fullback Eric Lichaj is ready to battle Joe Bennett for a first team place.

Lichaj has welcomed the arrival of Bennett, a £2.75m signing from Middlesbrough, even though the England Under-21 player is a specialist for the position.

"I feel extra pressure because obviously I'm not a natural left-back but I'm playing in that position now. I need to do as well as I can and hopefully I can keep that spot," said Lichaj.

"At the moment I'm having a good spell so I'm happy with that and hopefully I can keep it going. In any team there's always competition for places and if there wasn't then I probably wouldn't be as good or playing as well as I have been.

"Right now I've just got to keep it going for the team and for myself."