Aston Villa's Chris Herd needed to leave Villa Park for first-team football

Aston Villa's Chris Herd is looking forward to testing himself on loan at Bolton Wanderers as his Villa Park contract nears its end.

The Australian has spoken of his need for first-team football, as well as his hard start to life in England.

"I've been over in the UK for 10 years now," he told the Birmingham Mail. "I left Perth and found myself dropped in the middle of Birmingham at 15 years old. It was a massive difference. I moved over here without my family, and without a friend, and I've been here ever since. I'm used to living away.

"I'm at a place where I need regular first-team football and I wasn't getting that at Aston Villa. Bolton came in for me and I couldn't resist such a big club.

"There's a great history here and you sense that coming into the place. All I'm thinking about now is performing and playing in as many games as I can. My contract runs out in the summer but at the moment I'm just looking forward to testing myself at Bolton."

Bolton entertain Derby County in the Championship this afternoon.