Kevin MacDonald: 'Remi Garde has something to work with at Aston Villa'

Kevin MacDonald has told Remi Garde that he has enough quality in the Aston Villa squad to keep the club in the Premier League.

MacDonald lost his only top-flight game as the club's caretaker manager as Villa were defeated 3-1 by Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

However, the Scot believes that Garde, who was confirmed as the team's new permanent boss on Monday, has players in his side capable of keeping the Midlands outfit in the division.

MacDonald told Sky Sports News: "If you look at the game as a whole, for the new manager, the shift that the players put in over the course of the 90 minutes - he's got something to work with.

"They've got a great desire to work, work, and work. They need to utilise their knowledge a little bit better, they need to take care of the ball a bit better.

"Obviously Remi with his experience of having played with Arsenal and with the work he's done at Lyon, I'm sure he'll be reiterating that as well."

Villa are bottom of the Premier League, with four points from their 11 matches this season.