Lambert to set out scouting plans

Villa boss Paul Lambert is looking to revamp the club's scouting department as he continues his search for new signings this summer.

Lambert did a lot of his own scouting at his former club Norwich but will now inherit a more sophisticated operation at Villa Park, run by chief scout Glenn Roeder. The Scotsman targeted a specific type of player during his time at Carrow Road - young, hungry types from the Championship and League One who generally flourished under his management. Last summer, Lambert snapped up Steve Morison, then 27, Elliott Bennett, Anthony Pilkington and Bradley Johnson - all aged between 22 and 24 - for the Canaries. He then signed Jonny Howson and Ryan Bennett, players of a similar profile, during the January transfer window. Lambert has met Roeder but has not yet spoken in person to Villa's Dutch-based scout Arthur Numan who has been watching matches for the Dutch FA at Euro 2012. Numan helped Villa sign Australian midfielder Brett Holman on a free transfer and has been scouting Holland's potential quarter-final opponents - Poland, Russia, Greece and the Czech Republic, while he has been in Poland.