Matthew Lowton hoping to emulate Kyle Walker

New Aston Villa signing Matthew Lowton has said that he is hoping to "follow in the footsteps" of fellow right-back and friend Kyle Walker.

The 23-year-old knows Tottenham Hotspur's Walker from their time in the youth ranks at Sheffield United.

Walker also spent time in Birmingham during a six-month loan spell with Villa during the 2010-11 campaign and Lowton says that he will speak to Walker about the city.

"Hopefully I can follow in the footsteps of what [Kyle] has done," Lowton told Villa's website.

"I haven't spoken to him yet. It has been a quiet one really but I think I will give him a call about things - the surrounding area, things to do, what the stadium is like.

"We still talk so I know that he will help me out. It is nice to have somebody that has been here before who I know."

Villa travel to newly-promoted West Ham United on the opening day of the Premier League season on August 18.