Weimann targets regular Villa shirt

Aston Villa striker Andreas Weimann is hoping he will keep getting game time in the first-team under the management of Paul Lambert.

The introduction of several youngsters last season was one of the few plus points from Alex McLeish's dismal stint in charge at Villa Park as the team flirted briefly with relegation from the Premier League. The 20-year-old managed to score two crucial goals late in the campaign and he is now praying for the chance to impress his new manager. He said: "Hopefully I get another opportunity to show what I can show and get a few more chances in the team. "Last season we had loads of young players come through. "I think seven players who had come through the academy started one game, which is good for the young players because they can see there is a chance there for them. "It's a fresh start for everyone and I can't wait to get going." The young Austrian is hopeful of being fit for the start of the new season despite picking up a knee injury in Villa's penultimate game of the last campaign - a 1-1 draw at home to Spurs which kept McLeish's men up. Weimann says his rehabilitation is going well and he fully expects to be back in time for the big kick-off at newly promoted West Ham on August 18th.