Aston Villa: Stewart Downing has shown his class - Albrighton

Nov 24 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

STEWART Downing showed glimpses of his class in his first few training sessions before his surprise Villa debut, according to fellow winger Marc Albrighton.

Downing finally got his first run-out for his new club three months after his arrival when he came on as a 70th-minute substitute in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Burnley.

Villa manager Martin O’Neill’s decision to introduce the fit-again wideman to first-team action at Turf Moor, four weeks ahead of schedule, came as a shock.

But Albrighton knew from the moment Downing first pulled on his boots to join in with full training at Bodymoor Heath that the England star would be a quality addition.

“Stewart Downing’s just returned to training and I’ve looked at him and thought how good he’s looked and how much I’ve learned off him already with some of the stuff that he does,” said Albrighton.

“When we’ve got players like that coming back it shows that this is definitely a club on the up.

“It will make my job harder when Downing comes back properly, but I’ve just got to look positively at it. It’s another player for me to learn off. I think I’ll definitely do that.”

Downing’s availability will put pressure on Ashley Young and James Milner’s places as well as making Albrighton’s task of breaking into the first team even tougher.

But the 20-year-old, from Tamworth, is convinced his senior colleagues in his position are versatile enough to be accommodated in O’Neill’s starting line-up.

“I’m looking forward to working with all of them,” added Albrighton.

“I think Stewart can bring something else to the team.

“Martin O’Neill’s got to try and fit all three of them in, but I think he can do that and I think we’ve got three class players in those three.

“Ash can play up front and Milner and Downing can play in the middle as well so they are versatile which I think will help them and help the team.

“This is definitely the club to be at.

‘‘We’ve got a lot of young English talent with a great manager, a great stadium and a great training ground.”