By Paul Brown

Marc Albrighton admits he's been dreaming about Villa's bright future under Paul Lambert - while sunning himself on holiday.

Albrighton has been away to Ibiza and Tenerife during the off-season but his mind has often wandered on to claret and blue matters as he looks forward to being encouraged to show his attacking intent with Lambert at the helm.

Villa's right wing ace thinks Norwich's status under Lambert as a free-flowing top-flight force is evidence of what claret and blue fans are in for next term.

And Albrighton admits, from a player's perspective, he's relishing working under Lambert because of his reputation as a motivator.

He said: "We keep ourselves in shape, obviously, while we're away on holiday but there's nothing like coming back to Bodymoor Heath and getting your fitness back, playing small-sided games, getting back into the routine of your everyday job as a footballer and starting the build-up for the new season.

"It knocks you about a bit when you have your time off in the summer. You have your holidays where you can relax but you're also looking forward to getting back and starting training. It's fantastic to feel healthy and fit and relish playing football again.

"That's certainly the case for me coming back this season. I have so much enthusiasm going into this campaign. I can't wait for next week.

"I have heard nothing but superb reviews about the gaffer. I am really looking forward to working with him.

"I can't wait to meet him and work under him. He really has had rave reviews.

"It seems like he has great methods with his players and he's already brought in a few things which have been masterstrokes, like moving the home dugout nearer the Holte End.

"It's all on the up and it's exciting times.

"I have heard him say that he wants to play attacking, positive football too and that's great.

"I think he showed that mentality with Norwich. He brought them up into the Barclays Premier League, a division quite a few hadn't played in before. They really did turn a few heads with their quality performances, their mentality and their results.

"They won quite a few games, in my opinion, by playing positively. That's the sort of football every player wants to play and every fan wants to see.

"I think he will bring that sort of football to Villa and I think we have the players to play it too.

"He appears to be a great motivator also.

"He seems like he's superb at getting players right up for a game. He seems like he can get you firing for any match, whether it be Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Barclays Premier League, an FA Cup clash or a pre-season friendly.

"I have spoken to Baz who knows several of the guys who worked under him at Norwich. They have said how good he is and how lucky we are to have him. I can't wait to get back to training."

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