Birmingham Mail: Paul Lambert has explained that his decision to change the captaincy is a reflection of Ron Vlaar's "colossal" leadership rather than a statement on previous stand-in skipper Darren Bent. Stiliyan Petrov is still the club's official captain while he continues his battle against acute leukaemia. But Lambert has been looking for the right on-pitch leader to inspire Villa in Petrov's absence and Bent wore the armband during pre-season and for the first four league and cup games.

Birmingham Mail: Running man Brett Holman is happy to set the tempo for the in-your-face football underpinning Villa's encouraging early-season turnaround. Holman's all-action style was evident in the draw at Newcastle and he was man of the match in Saturday's win over Swansea at Villa Park. The Aussie midfielder's energy has served as an example to his team-mates, whose hassling and harrying has started to reap its rewards.

Birmingham Mail: Paul Lambert expects his claret and blue beginners to thrive at Villa Park if the players and fans can maintain the feelgood atmosphere.

Daily Mirror: Paul Lambert insists he has "no fear" about his Villa Park revolution after taking the captaincy off Darren Bent. Villa boss Lambert has wasted little time in changing the club after replacing Alex McLeish. He has signed eight "hungry" players from either abroad or the lower leagues. Senior full-backs Alan Hutton and Stephen Warnock have gone to the youth team with veteran shot-stopper Shay Given axed.

Daily Star: Paul Lambert admits he stripped Darren Bent of the Aston Villa captaincy to help him find his goal touch. Villa's £24m record-signing has yet to score in four Premier League games this season. And new boss Lambert fears leading out the team might put added pressure on the striker.

Times: Paul Lambert, the Aston Villa manager, has revealed that his decision to relieve Darren Bent of the captain's armband was to enable the forward to focus on rediscovering his goalscoring touch.

Sky Sports: Christian Benteke is determined for his debut goal to be the first of many for Aston Villa. The striker came on as a substitute and netted in the weekend's 2-0 win over Swansea City as Paul Lambert picked up his first Premier League victory as Villa boss.

Best of the Rest

BBC Sport: British football must stop the current handshake row from becoming a "mafia feud", says Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor.

Sky Sports: West Brom's sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth has been appointed as the Football Association's new director of elite development. A move for Ashworth has been mooted for some time after Gareth Southgate opted against taking up the position.

BBC Sport: Manchester City playmaker David Silva has signed a new five-year deal that will keep him at the club until 2017.

BBC Sport: Brad Friedel believes Tottenham will have enough games to keep both him and Hugo Lloris happy this season.

Sky Sports: Jose Mourinho believes Manchester City are on course to win the UEFA Champions League if they continue developing at their current rate.

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