Marc Albrighton ready to step up

Pre-season star Marc Albrighton today vowed he is ready to mix it with England's elite, declaring: 'If you're good enough, you're old enough.'

The wing wizard, 20, has been on fire in Villa's friendlies so far this summer, not least Tuesday's man-of-the-match display in the 2-1 win at Walsall.

After catching the eye on the continent in the Peace Cup last summer, he is hoping for further chances to impress manager Martin O'Neill in this weekend's Guadiana Cup games against Benfica and Feyenoord in Portugal.

And, after five first-team appearances last season, the Tamworth-born Villa academy starlet revealed he now feels ready to mix it with the big boys.

"Am I ready for the Premier League? I'd like to think so," he said. "I've got to be confident about it. If the gaffer wants to use me in the Premier League I can't go in thinking that everyone is so much better than me.

"I've got to think I'm on the same playing field as them. Age should not matter because if you're good enough you should be thrown in there and be able to perform.

"Appearances and training for a full year with the first team gives you more confidence and determination to do well. It's paid off a lot and I think I've become a stronger player in the last year.

"I'd prefer more appearances but whether that will come or not I'm unsure. That's down to the gaffer.

"I'll just get on with my job and hopefully it will be good enough and I'll get more football."

With Villa's World Cup players James Milner, Stephen Warnock and Emile Heskey having reported back late for pre-season, the door has opened for the likes of Albrighton, Barry Bannan, Andreas Weimann, Ciaran Clark and Eric Lichaj to stake their claims.

And Albrighton believes they have grabbed the opportunity with both hands.

He said: "It's always good to play games and with the lads not coming back until late because of the World Cup it's given the young lads a chance to show what they can do.

"I've played a lot of football over the last couple of weeks and I've really enjoyed it. The gaffer always says to get at your man and that's what I tried to do for the entire game at Walsall.

"I think I did well and the other lads, like Barry Bannan and Andreas Weimann did too.

"Maybe some of the results we've had haven't been great but the main objective is to get fitness under your belt and we've definitely done that.

"The Bohemians game was a disappointment to the lads because we like to win football matches - but the main objective is to get fitness under your belt and we've definitely done that."