Albrighton ready for Villa challenge

20 July 2011 15:10
Marc Albrighton hopes the lessons he has learnt from Ashley Young and Stewart Downing will help him to step up and fill their boots this term.[LNB] The pair left the club for a total of £35million this summer, and both manager Alex McLeish and star striker Darren Bent have tipped Albrighton to shine in their absence.[LNB]"It's always nice to hear that from your manager," Albrighton said. "They are big boots to fill, but for me it's an opportunity.[LNB]"I'll go out there and do my best and hopefully something will come of it."[LNB]The 21-year-old is now hoping to thrive without the players who have been instrumental in his development, even if he will miss their help and advice.[LNB]"That's something that I haven't got this year which I think I'm going to miss," Albrighton said.[LNB]"They are two of the best wingers in England at the moment so to learn from players like that for the last two or three years is great for me.[LNB]"I don't have them this year, but hopefully they've given me enough lessons to show my own ability and go out there and perform."[LNB]Albrighton, who was speaking at the launch of Aston Villa's new home shirt, sponsored by Genting Casinos, believes he needs regular first-team football to improve his game further.[LNB]He said; "Playing in Premier League games is the only way you're going to be able to test yourself, and you're testing yourself against the best there.[LNB]"To play every week would be great for me if I can manage that."[LNB]Despite the loss of key players this summer, Albrighton believes Villa should forget about a disappointing 2010/11 season and aim for a top-six finish.[LNB]"I think we've got to say that our target's Europe," he said.[LNB]"I don't know what happened last year, we should have been up there, but we conceded sloppy goals that have cost us victories and a lot of points in the end.[LNB]"This year we've got to jump back on it and finish where we should be. Aston Villa are a European club."

Source: Team_Talk