Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert denies rift talk

The claret and blue chief insisted Lowton's most recent omission was purely tactical and not because of a problem between the pair.

He left Lowton out of the squad for the 0-0 draw at Cardiff last week, the second time in a month he had been axed.

Lowton was also disciplined and cut from the squad for the 2-2 draw at Liverpool last month after being late to training in the build-up to the game.

But Lambert insisted he has no issue with the 24-year-old and insisted leaving him out at Cardiff was purely a football decision.

"I just left him out. I just had to pick a team that I thought was right," he said.

"He's been fine. I don't want people writing I've fallen out with him, because that's nonsense. There's no such thing."

Lowton was an ever-present in his debut Premier League season following a 2012 move from Sheffield United.

But he was dropped earlier in the season after a loss of form with Leandro Bacuna preferred to him at right-back.

Lowton admitted he deserved to be axed because he had not performed before returning in December.

In contrast to Lowton, Joe Bennett has returned to the team after battling a back injury since September.

He made his first Premier League start of the season in the Cardiff stalemate to earn praise from the manager.

Lambert added: "I thought he did great. That was his first 60 odd minutes in months. I thought he did ever so well considering he hasn't done much at all, he came in and I thought coped very well.

"He had the problem with his knee and then his back, but that's his first real test in earnest in four months or so.

"I don't think there's any issue with his confidence, it was only match fitness why we took him off."