Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has praised the impact that midfielder Ashley Westwood has made on his team this season.

The 22-year-old, who joined Villa from Crewe Alexandra on transfer deadline day, made his first start for the club in their 1-0 victory at Sunderland last month and has been an ever-present since.

"I think a lot gets overlooked with Ashley. I think he has been excellent since that Sunderland game when he was thrown in," Lambert told the club's website.

"His pass ratio was extremely high and he never gives it away. I think his pass success rate is right up there at about 91%. I think that's been really overlooked.

"Sometimes nobody wants to play the easy pass but he does that and he makes it look easy. Because he's not giving it away people think he's not doing anything but he's been exceptional."

Villa host Stoke City in the Premier League on Saturday.