Former Blackburn Rovers fullback Stephen Warnock admits the chance to work with Martin O'Neill convinced him about joining Aston Villa.

The 27-year-old left-back admits that working with the Northern Irishman was such a tempting career move that he did not have to think twice before making the decision to move southwards in the summer.

Warnock said: "If you look at Martin O'Neill's career, the clubs he has been at and what he has done, it is fantastic.

"He is a manager a lot of people want to work with and play for. I am certainly one of them.

"Everything about Villa is positive. The squad is full of quality with five or six players in the England squad and lots of other quality internationals too.

"Coming into a squad like that has been absolutely fantastic."