Holt has point to prove at Villa

Grant Holt is determined to prove he deserves the Premier League lifeline handed to him by Aston Villa.

Having scored just twice in the Championship this season for Wigan Athletic, Holt’s loan move to Villa Park earlier this month raised plenty of eyebrows.

But the 32-year-old striker has made a career out of silencing the critics, having risen through the football pyramid before reaching the top flight with Norwich City under the stewardship of Paul Lambert, the now Villa manager.

And Holt is confident he can succeed at Villa.

“For something as simple as a loan, it created quite a stir, didn’t it?” Holt told the club’s official website.

“Some people were saying it was a good thing and some saying it was a bad thing.

“But I was told I wouldn’t score goals in the Championship and I did; then I was told I wouldn’t score in the Premier League but I got 17 for Norwich and there was talk of me being called up for England.

“I followed up with eight last season, and although I’ve had a stop-start season at Wigan, it’s up to me to show this move was right.

“The manager knows what he wants and he’s determined to get it right.

“No matter what happens, whenever I put the shirt on I will be doing my best.”