Marc Albrighton is happy to assist

Marc Albrighton is ready to deliver a sackful of presents to striker Emile Heskey as Villa prepare for their Boxing Day showdown with Tottenham.

The 21-year-old winger believes Villa have really missed the powerful presence of Heskey, who spent two months on the sidelines with a knee injury, at the apex of Villa's attack.

Heskey immediately found the net on his return to the starting line-up against Albion when he nodded home an Albrighton cross to notch his fifth goal of the campaign.

And Albrighton is happy to continue in his supporting role as chief provider when they take on Spurs at Villa Park in four days time.

He said: "Emile has been doing it for years. He's just a great footballer and I know if I put the ball into the box in the right place, he's going to be on the end of it.

"It makes my job a lot easier. You know if you deliver he will score. He's a real threat to defenders and capable of anything. When he plays well, the team plays well. He's brilliant to have in the side.

"It's great thinking he's in the box waiting for my crosses. The fact is you love scoring goals as a winger but you get a buzz creating chances too. It's my job. It's something I thrive on.

"Emile's return to the team is massive. He's a massive influence in the side. He has tremendous work-rate and brings people into the game.

"People have criticised him in the past for not scoring enough goals but if you look at the other side of his game, it's unbelievable.

"Worryingly for defenders he's starting to score goals regularly for us now too. He's unplayable on his day.

"Emile is one of the best players I have ever played with - not just one of the best strikers, one of the very best players.

"Even if he's not going to get there then I'm going to have Stewart Downing coming in from the other side to finish it off."

Albrighton also admitted that he has been personally flattered by recent comparisons that have been made between himself and David Beckham.

LA Galaxy midfielder Beckham was recently in Birmingham to collect a lifetime achievement award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year show.

And the winger revealed the former England captain was a player who had really inspired him during his youth.

Albrighton said: "To hear something like that is unbelievable.

"I don't think it's possible to get a bigger compliment. To hear something like that makes me very proud

"He was someone I looked up to when I was a young lad growing up and watching football.

"When Manchester United were the live game, I always wanted him to be playing. As a winger, there was absolutely no better player to watch at the time.

"The way he crossed the ball and his set-piece deliveries were outstanding. They say he wasn't blessed with sensational pace but he proved you don't need it.

"Any winger trying to learn his trade in the game, you can't go far wrong from watching footage of him in his pomp.

"If I could cross half as well as he did, my team-mates at Villa would be very, very happy.

"He was a star for England, Manchester United, Real Madrid and he was great to watch."