By Dan Harrison

Wilfred Bouma has backed Villa's three imports from the Dutch league to cope with the quicker tempo of the English top-flight.

Bouma has come up against summer signings Brett Holman, Ron Vlaar and Karim El Ahmadi on a number of occasions in the Eredivisie.

The former claret and blues full-back, who is now at PSV Eindhoven, believes their toughest task will be adapting to the frenetic pace of the Barclays Premier League.

"The only advice I can give them is to try and cope as quick as possible with the tempo because it is 90 minutes at a high tempo," said Bouma.

"Sometimes in the Dutch league you can take a little breather but that won't happen in the Premier League.

"So your mindset has to be right. You always have to be focused."

Bouma rated ex-Feyenoord duo Vlaar and El Ahmadi among the finest players in the Eredivisie last term after they helped the Rotterdam club to Champions League qualification.

As well as playing against Vlaar at club level, the 34-year-old is familiar with the centre-back through their involvement with the Holland national team.

"I think he will do really well because he is a really good player," added Bouma.

"He will be someone who his fellow defenders will like playing alongside and the fans will like him too. It will be nice to follow his progress.

"El Ahmadi - I think he was one of the best players in the Dutch league. He is a really, really good player and I think he is going to do really well as well.

"Ron and Karim were huge for Feyenoord in helping them reach the Champions League.

"Ron was the best defender in the Dutch league and Karim was doing it in the midfield.

"They both had really good seasons and that is why they can make the big step to Villa."

Bouma reckons Holman can have a positive impact on the Premier League just like fellow Australians Tim Cahill, Mark Bosnich and Mark Schwarzer.

"Brett Holman is someone I have played against a lot of times. He is a quality player as well," he said.

"He was looking forward for a long time to playing in the Premier League and now he has got his chance.

"Hopefully he will be a big success like the other Australians who came to the Premier League."

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