By Paul Brown

Steve Staunton believes tough-tackling Stephen Warnock will start the season on a high - despite his frustrating summer with England.

Warnock was selected by Fabio Capello to form part of his 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

And despite the country's early exit in the second round, Staunton believes the experience will give Warnock a "major boost" ahead of the forthcoming top-flight campaign.

He said: "Stephen didn't feature too much before the tournament and didn't play at all during the event itself but to be called up will have been a major boost for him.

"He did magnificently to get into the squad and it will have been great for him.

"The experience of being in amongst it and training with the best players in the country - living in each other's pockets - will have been an invaluable experience for him."

Staunton is a big fan of Villa's left-back, having spent a season with him at Coventry City.

Warnock was loaned out to the Championship club from Liverpool for the 2003-04 term and Staunton saw enough of him to realise he would have a big future in the game.

He added: "He was always going to make it.

"I was at Coventry when I first came across Stephen and played with him there. He came on loan from Liverpool.

"He was an aggressive full-back - and still is. That's a big part of his game.

"He has tremendous running power too and he's a good tackler.

"You could tell in his play that he was a tenacious player - he loved a tackle. He loves to get forward as well.

"His all-round game is very good. That's why he was picked for the England squad.

"If you look at Villa's back four and the goalkeeper too, it was another good season. When you're full of confidence and keeping clean sheets, you're going to play better. You can see that.

"The back four have come on leaps and bounds. Hopefully that continues again next season."

Warnock, meanwhile, is hoping to enjoy a career as glittering as Staunton.

Warnock was a big fan of the former Liverpool and Villa full-back and used to watch him as a kid on the Kop.

He said: "I used to play with Steve at Coventry and he was a real model pro - someone to look up to.

"He used to give me tips all the time to help me improve my game and I really appreciated his input throughout my time at Highfield Road.

"He was a great player and someone I used to love watching when I was a young fan on the Kop.

"He was a fan favourite at Liverpool and Villa. I'd take his career any day.

"He was a top guy and the things he did when he was at both clubs was so, so impressive."