Ashley Westwood has backed Aston Villa's buy English transfer policy.

Villa boss Paul Lambert raided the lower leagues to promote young English talent.

Middlesbrough's Joe Bennett will be given the chance to prove he can step up from the Championship.

Crewe skipper Ashley Westwood and Sheffield United's Matt Lowton have been plucked from League One, while Chesterfield's Jordan Bowery will try to make the leap from League Two to the top flight.

Westwood said: "There's a lot of English lads coming through and that can only be good for the English game.

"The gaffer did it at Norwich and he's trying to do the same thing at Villa.

"He's bringing through young lads because he knows we're hungry and we love football."