Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish today vowed to fight off interest from Nottingham Forest and persuade first-team coach Kevin MacDonald to remain with the club.

Aston Villa defender Stephen Warnock today lifted the lid on his frustration last season when he was frozen out of the first-team squad by former boss Gerard Houllier.

Manager Alex McLeish is backing Stewart Downing to knuckle back down to life with Villa – if the club ward off Liverpool’s attempts to sign the England international.

Villa winger Marc Albrighton has saluted colleagues past and present after getting his first Premier League goal.

Former caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald was forced to settle for a draw on his reserves return after seeing his Villa team pegged back by Sunderland.

New manager Gerard Houllier takes control at Villa today with the message from the claret and blue dressing room – ‘we are hungry to get started.’

Kevin MacDonald today lifted the lid on his reasons for turning down the chance to be Gerard Houllier’s assistant at Aston Villa.

Defender James Collins has urged Villa to do everything in their power to persuade Kevin MacDonald to stay at the club.

Villa were today poised to appoint one of the principal figures caught up in France’s World Cup scandal to Gerard Houllier’s backroom staff.

Villa intend on staging a meeting of the Supporters Consultation Group before Saturday’s Premier League match against Bolton.