Ron Vlaar ready to take on the best

The Villa captain will come up against Dutch international team-mate Robin van Persie and England striker Wayne Rooney when Manchester United visit at the weekend.

And Vlaar revealed facing the different qualities of Christian Benteke, Darren Bent and Gabby Agbonlahor in training every day has enabled him to stay a step ahead.

"Playing against Darren, Christian and Gabby does keep you on your toes. It is important because it helps you prepare for some of the different players in the Premier League," said Vlaar.

"They all bring something different which is very good. Every game someone else starts because the manager might look at a specific opponent and decide exactly what he needs.

"I think it's good because you need options. I always train like I play and that is very important. It helps me stay sharp.

"It's important that the manager has different options and I think in that position we have a few different players there now who all have their own qualities.

"Also it keeps you sharp because you coming up against different types of players every day in training. We need goals to win games and competition is important.

"You also need to be strong defensively and know that someone else is there waiting to come in and take your place. It's a good thing."

Vlaar, 27, also admitted Villa's defenders will not rest on their laurels despite a clean sheet against Sunderland last time out.

"As a team and a defence we know we have to do better and we have given away too many goals. We have also found it tough to score as well," added Vlaar.

"We have not had the luck either – if we had taken our chances in some games I think the outcome might have been different.

"There have been little details and things which we will work on and try to improve. Of course it will take time, everybody knows that. If you win that gives you confidence and we have to make sure that we get those wins."

* Villa are set to take promising Sweden youth international Ihab Naser on trial. The 15-year-old, who plays for Gothenburg side Gunnilse IS, had a trial spell with Chelsea in September and scored in a friendly against Crystal Palace.