Aston Villa's Paul Lambert: 'Young players need time'

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has urged fans not to put too much expectation on the club's young players this season.

A number of academy products have come through the ranks at Villa Park in the last year, while more have been fielded by Lambert in pre-season.

"I don't think anybody can get too carried away about the young ones and all of a sudden think they're going to be big players for us," the Scot told The Birmingham Mail.

"They're developing and you have to try to develop them. They're still a good bit away from it. They're only young kids that are developing and they'll need time."

Villa start their Premier League campaign with a trip to Arsenal on August 17.