ENDA Stevens will be welcomed with a warning to prove his Premier League credentials when he links up with Villa next week.

The former Shamrock Rovers left-back is set to complete his switch to the claret and blues when the transfer window opens on Monday.

Stevens has already started training with his new team-mates and has spent the last few weeks in Birmingham looking for accommodation.

But Alex McLeish has told him he faces a competitive fight for first-team football and might not even make his debut this season.

Asked how prominently the 21-year-old defender will feature in his plans, the Villa boss replied: “I don’t know, I don’t really know.

“If you look at the squad, who do you leave out? I’ve got Ciaran Clark who can play there and he is challenging at the moment as well.

“If someone is out for whatever reason then there might be some opportunities, but it is up to Enda to hit the ground running in training and do well so I think ‘Let’s get this guy involved’.