Leicester City hero names Liverpool veteran as 'source of inspiration'

Leicester City hero Marc Albrighton has named former Aston Villa teammate and current Liverpool vice-captain James Milner as a 'source of inspiration'.

The pair shared a dressing room for two full seasons at Villa Park before Milner departed for Manchester City in August 2010, with Albrighton staying on for a further four years before being released and joining the Foxes on a free transfer.

In approaching eight seasons at the King Power Stadium, the 32-year-old is closing in on 300 appearances for Leicester and is well on the way to reaching that landmark this calendar year for Brendan Rodgers ' side.

Those early days at Villa, alongside Milner, have continued to colour how Albrighton approaches football these days on the opposite side of the Midlands.

"I am not one for the things surrounding football," Albrighton tells Sky Sports.

The interviewer adds that 'Milner is a source of inspiration' before the player continues: "He was the first player I looked at and thought, 'Wow, he is committed. He really works hard.'"

"He was staying until god knows what time in the gym doing extras. He was the first in every morning just taking care of himself, really putting everything into it. It was not just turn up, train and go home. James Milner was the first person I had really seen do that."

The two shared a pitch on just six occasions during their shared time at Villa, five of which lasted less than half an hour as Albrighton began to break into the side under Martin O'Neill.

They did start the first match of the 2010/11 season alongside each other, though, in what turned out to be Milner's final match, when Albrighton assisted twice, including the third and final goal of the 3-0 win over West Ham United which saw the