Lambert aims to play game ‘the right way’

The 42-year-old – officially unveiled yesterday – takes over from fellow Scot Alex McLeish, having left Norwich following a three-year spell which saw him guide the club to consecutive promotions and a 12th-placed Premier League finish last season.

Lambert’s appointment has raised hopes among the Villa Park faithful that the club – 16th last season – can return to being among the Premier League’s top sides, and it is a task the former Borussia Dortmund and Celtic midfielder says he is up to.

He said: “We have to give the fans something, we will need them. I think they will come here in their thousands to watch us and it is up to us to give something back. I am honoured to be manager of the football club, I will give it everything I’ve got to be successful.

“There is a lot of expectancy at the club and it is not something I am going to shy away from, it is something I will thrive on hopefully. We will try and get results as quickly and as best we can. We have to play football in the right way.”

Lambert said his reasons for leaving Norwich “will probably remain private”.