By Dan Harrison

Michael Drennan has been taking inspiration from Andreas Weimann as he looks to become the next goalscoring star to emerge from Villa's academy.

Now the in-form Republic of Ireland U19 hotshot wants to emulate Weimann's path to first team success.

Drennan has made an impressive start to pre-season with five goals in three matches for Villa's second string.

It follows on from a strong finish to 2011-12 when he found the net five times in 13 appearances in the Barclays Premier Reserve League.

The 18-year-old saw how Weimann's red-hot form at reserve level last term quickly propelled him into the top-flight spotlight.

And Drennan revealed he has been using the Austrian U21 striker as a role model in a bid to make his mark at the club.

"Andreas is a player who I try and copy my runs from," he said.

"I look and see what he does. He scored a lot last year and got his chance and then took it.

"Hopefully that is what I will do. I will keep my head down and keep everything going and hopefully go where he is."

Drennan admits his pre-season goal glut has done wonders for his confidence.

As well as bagging a hat-trick in the victory over Boldmere St Michaels, he was on target in the friendlies against Worcester City and Chester.

"It is doing a lot for my confidence," said the striker.

"It will do me good getting a few goals in pre-season and keep me going nicely into the new season.

"It is not just me but it is the passes coming from Graham Burke and Jack Grealish and also when DJ [Daniel Johnson] plays.

"It is good having them there because they can see the passes and the runs.

"It is giving me a lot of confidence so hopefully I can continue that."

Drennan hopes to hit the ground running this season after keeping in shape over the summer by training at former club Evergreen in his hometown of Kilkenny.

"I've worked hard enough in pre-season while I was at home," he added.

"I go to my old club and kick around and do my runs and have a laugh with the lads there as well.

"I've worked on my fitness and kept working on my touch so I need to keep fit and keep things going.

"I came back in better shape that I thought I would."

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