Wayne Routledge has joined Villa on an 18-month contract

The winger arrived at Villa Park on deadline day from Spurs and made an immediate impact in a Villa shirt - scoring for the reserves on Monday.

Routledge told BBC WM: "It's no backward step. It's a great, big club and I want to be part of it.

"I've watched Villa this season and they play good football. I hope to be able to show what I can do."

Routledge got off to a perfect start in a Villa shirt, scoring for the second-string in their 6-0 thrashing of Derby and is pushing for a full-team debut at home to Newcastle on Saturday.

"It's been a frustrating last couple of seasons for me so I have to prove what I am about," he added, after signing an 18-month deal. "If I can do that I'll be rewarded with a new contract." Routledge is looking forward to the challenge of trying to emulate the likes of Gabby Agbonlahor and Ashley Young at Villa Park.

The position the team's in now is amazing. Everyone's buzzing and hopefully we can get that European spot Villa winger Wayne Routledge

"We all came through the same England youth system and they are doing fantastically well.

"They're both obviously in the senior team now and if I can start playing maybe I can too."

Despite their famously thin squad Villa are strong challengers for a European place next season and Routledge sees no reason why that cannot be achieved.