Samir Carruthers planning for the future at Villa

The 20-year-old has been joined by Graham Burke and Michael Drennan in committing their future to the claret and blues.

The pair have also inked two-year contracts after helping the club win the NextGen tournament last season.

All off Carruthers' three substitute appearances came under Alex McLeish in 2012 and he is now eyeing a role under manager Paul Lambert.

Carruthers captained the under-19s to victory against Chelsea on the NextGen final.

He said: "It's great for me to commit my future to Villa where I've grown to this point in my career and hope to progress further.

"Now I've just got to try and work hard and try and get into the first team, that's the main aim.

"Last year I made some squads and I was close to the first team, but nearly isn't good enough. You have to go for it.

"Even if I do get a game or two I haven't made it yet. I want to be playing every single week and that's what every footballer wants to do.

"Now I'm hopefully training with them every day. If I can keep fit and avoid injuries you never know."

Burke made two League Cup appearances last term while Drennan is yet to make his first-team bow.

Ireland under-21 striker Burke said: "This year I'm hoping to push on in the first team. I got a taste for it last year, coming on in two games.

"The aim this year is to play more and hopefully I can achieve that.

"I'm very proud of myself. The aim was to come here for three years and hopefully push on.

"The next thing to do is to keep working hard and keep getting better."

Striker Drennan added: "Hopefully I can push on now, get myself into the gaffer's thoughts. That's my aim, I'll try to score some more goals.

"We're lucky enough to come here to this club and have the set-up here, have the coaches that we have here to help us push on."