Roy keen to find out what makes Villa tick

Roy Keane today insisted he is ready to find out what makes Villa tick on their trip Stateside.

The newly-appointed assistant manager is eager to get to know the squad as Villa jetted out for their two-game tour of Texas today.

They play Houston Dynamo and FC Dallas next week and Keane will use the opportunity to build up his relationship with the players after arriving earlier this month as Paul Lambert's No.2.

Keane, who was in the Villa dugout for the first time in Thursday's 3-1 friendly win at Mansfield, said: "It will be important for me from a selfish point of view to get to know the players and the staff.

"Sometimes you get to know people better when you're travelling with them.

"Learning boundaries, getting some training sessions under my belt and getting a feel for the group and what I feel they need or they don't need.

"Pre-season's going to be very important, that's why the trip to the States is obviously going to be pretty good.

"I've only just come back from there, I've been over there with Ireland, but I'm looking forward to the tour.

"I think America is always a good place to have pre-season, and to get some games over there and the facilities are always excellent so I'm really looking forward to that trip."