New Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has revealed that he is relishing the prospect of a new start with the club.

Villa were disappointing last season, finishing just two points off the relegation zone, and Lambert believes that he needs to get the side to play to their strengths if he wants to improve on that position.

"It's the first day for everyone and it's new and fresh. When a new manager comes in, there is always a bit of trepidation amongst the players about what is going to happen," said the former Norwich City boss.

"But we are not going to complicate things and hopefully they will respond and, if they do that, then we'll be fine. I'm not going to ask them to do anything which is alien to them. I'm going to get them to play to their strengths.

"I'll speak to them as a group and then I might speak to one or two individuals to get a bit of background about what it's been like. I think mentality is important in terms of how you handle things and how you deal with players, and hopefully the players will get the same ideas as myself."

Lambert has been in charge at Villa Park for just over a month after joining from Norwich, which he guided to an impressive 12th-placed finish last season.