Steven Gerrard compares Aston Villa's Emi Buendia to Liverpool hero

Aston Villa head coach Steven Gerrard claims that Emi Buendia reminds him of former Liverpool star Javier Mascherano for his "really competitive" will to win.

Buendia made his Argentina international debut last week off the back of an outstanding month of performances with Villa.

He was voted as the club's player of the month for January after catching the eye in games against Manchester United and Everton and looks to have found his feet at Villa following the arrival of Gerrard.

Buendia became the club's transfer record buy following his £35million switch from Norwich City in the summer, but took some time to settle in his new surroundings.

He now looks every bit a top player at Villa and Gerrard is delighted with the progress he has made in recent weeks.

Gerrard said: “He’s smiling but he is still angry in training. That’s because he’s a little competitor, he is tenacious, but I don’t mind all of that.

“I love someone who, be it in one v one or two by twos or three by threes it doesn’t matter, they treat it like it’s the World Cup final.

“They want to win, it doesn’t matter what it is, they want to be competitive. It’s in their DNA. They are winners.

“He reminds me of Mascherano. The Argentinians are really competitive. They want to win everything.

“I think if you get in those habits on a daily basis it comes out in the games. That’s the mentality I want in all my players. If we can get everyone in the same place as Emi, controlled, we will be alright.”