Villa striker John Carew believes the club’s success last season proved he was right to leave French giants Lyon for Villa Park.

The Norwegian international has really come to the fore as a strong target man and provider in attack, although his scoring record was none too shabby either, finishing with 13 goals to his credit last term.

Some eyebrows were raised when Carew decided to leave Lyon for the Premier League in January 2007, in a swap deal for Milan Baros.

He left a side who had made winning the Ligue 1 title almost a matter of routine, for a team who finished 16th the previous summer.

Sixth-place and the third best goalscoring tally in the Premier League last season revitalised player and club, with the faltering Baros looking to be on his way out of Lyon.

For Carew, it only confirms what he knew all along.

He said: “This has been a great season for Aston Villa and it underlines for me, absolutely, that I made the right choice in coming here from Lyon.

“I hoped when I came here that we would qualify for Europe and we have achieved that now, which is fantastic.”