Aston Villa signing Matthew Lowton says his time in Hungary helped launch his career.

The full-back was able to take advantage of former club Sheffield United's links with Ferencvaros to gain valuable first team experience.

"I was playing reserve football a lot of the time and the gaffer at the time said he wanted to send me over there to play first team football," Lowton told Villa's website.

"I moved out there when I was 17. I had to live on my own, fend for myself and then play first team football.

"So it definitely helped me grow up, get used to first team games, bigger crowds and getting three points, things like that.

"It definitely helped me and is probably why I am where I am now."