Westwood stepping up nicely

Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph is currently singing the praises of former Crewe Alexandra skipper Ashley Westwood.

Westwood, 22, recently joined the Premier League side in a £2m deal after making almost 150 senior appearances for the Alex since progressing through the famed youth academy at Gresty Road.

To date he has managed a couple of substitute appearances for Villa in the recent win against Swansea City and defeat to Southampton. But former Leeds United product Delph believes his new colleague can certainly make the step up.

“Ashley is a terrific player technically and he is up there with the best in our team,” Delph told the Birmingham Mail. “Playing in the lower leagues, I wouldn’t knock it and wouldn’t change it for anything.

“The step up here is massive,” he added. “Myself and Westy are the same age so we can relate to each other. I can see him getting a
run in the team very soon and doing well.”