Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov has backed the club’s new trio of defenders to talk the talk and walk the walk this season after hailing their vocal and leadership qualities.

Richard Dunne, James Collins and Stephen Warnock, who cost the claret and blues a combined £18million, all made their debuts in Sunday’s 1-0 derby win over Birmingham at St Andrew’s.

Petrov believes the new-boys will bring some much-needed experience, to a back four which struggled without Martin Laursen in the second half of last season.

The skipper said: “They know what it takes to be a leader. They were loud and can control the game from the back.

“Talking was lacking before and now we have people taking control and that’s what we want to see.”

Warnock admitted he and Dunne are quiet off the field – but the opposite on it.

The left-back said: “I’m a different person on the pitch, screaming at the people around me all the time. Myself and Richard are quite quiet lads around the place, but in a game it’s a different thing.

“You’ve got to talk and if you don’t you’re not going to get anywhere. I grew up with Jamie Carragher at Liverpool.  He never shut up during a game!”