Birmingham Mail: Paul Lambert has pledged there will be more transfers at Villa in the next few weeks because the claret and blue squad he has inherited "need a hand" from fresh faces. Brett Holman, Karim El Ahmadi and Matthew Lowton have already been recruited and there are expected to be a host of other comings and goings throughout the transfer window.

Birmingham Mail: Paul Lambert has kicked off the countdown to his first match in charge of Villa at Burton this weekend by emphasising that pre-season is more about fitness than results. Lambert-mania will be cranked up another notch when the new manager stars his claret and blue reign with a friendly against Gary Rowett's League Two side at 3pm on Saturday.

Daily Star: Darren Bent will be back to big-style for Aston Villa this season, says new boss Paul Lambert. England striker Bent, 28, missed Euro 2012 with an ankle injury which had sidelined him since February.

Mirror: Paul Lambert is tipping Darren Bent to put a wretched season behind him - and fire Aston Villa's resurgence. New boss Lambert linked up with striker Bent for the first time when the squad returned for pre-season training.

Daily Express: Shay Given has been warned he faces a fight for the No 1 jersey as Aston Villa close in on re-signing Brad Guzan. After four years as understudy at Villa, USA international Guzan was released at the end of last season, but is now on the verge of agreeing a new deal.

Setanta Sports: Paul Lambert has promised Aston Villa fans there will be more new signings in the build up to the new Premier League campaign. The new Villa boss has already drafted in Karim El Ahmadi and Matthew Lowton since replacing the sacked Alex McLeish this summer, while midfielder Brett Holman was already signed on a pre-contract agreement.

Sky Sports: Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has suggested there could be an opening for Brad Guzan to become the club's first-choice goalkeeper. The American has been a standby at Villa Park for much of the last four years - first to compatriot Brad Friedel and then to Shay Given.

*The extracts on this page are taken from various newspapers and media outlets. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Aston Villa.