Aston Villa's Nicky Shorey Unconcerned By Stephen Warnock Signing

Aston Villa left-back Nicky Shorey claims he is unfazed by the arrival of Stephen Warnock at the Midlands club.

The Blackburn Rovers star joined Villa earlier in the week, signing a four-year deal with the club.

Shorey struggled to break into the starting eleven at Villa Park last season with manager Martin O'Neill preferring to play Luke Young, a right-back by nature, at left-back on many occasions.

The ex-Reading defender has, though, played the full ninety minutes in the Villans opening two fixtures of the Premier League season, and has looked like cementing a more permanent place in the team.

But the signing of former Liverpool full-back Warnock will no doubt provide even further competition for the 28-year-old, although Shorey insists he is relishing the challenge of proving his worth.

"It is a challenge, obviously he [Warnock] is a left-back," Shorey is quoted as saying by the Press Association.

"A club like Villa are going to be signing players all the time in your position.

"You've just got to get on with it, do your best and hopefully you will get a game. If not, then we will wait and see what happens.

"But I am up for the challenge, I want to play football. That is my main aim and, if someone gets in the way, you've got to make sure you are playing better than them.

"That's all you can do. If we are playing well and winning, hopefully I will stay in the team."

Stephen Darwin, Goal.com