Trent Alexander-Arnold comments will delight Steven Gerrard as Aston Villa boss hatches plan

Aston Villa right-back Matty Cash insists that he is in the form of his career as he continues to develop under Steven Gerrard.

The Poland international has started every one of Gerrard's first 18 league games in charge of Villa, since the former Rangers boss returned to the Premier League to begin his management journey in the English top-flight. With four goal contributions in his last five games, Cash believes that he can continue impressing under the demanding head coach.

He told talkSPORT: "Working with him (Gerrard) day in, day out has been really good. Obviously the team he has bought with him as well is fantastic, which makes it a lot better. I'm really enjoying it every day. There's a demand out there on the training pitch at Bodymoor, which is what he has implemented. I'm relishing the challenge he has given me which is good."

Asked if his role had changed at Villa since Gerrard's arrival, Cash replied: "Definitely. Me and the gaffer sit down and go through bits, what he wants me to do, what I'm doing well and what I need to improve on. The last couple weeks the goals and assists have been flowing, but mainly as a defender getting clean sheets as well, I think Emi Martinez will tell you that, he loves a clean sheet!

"It's about getting a balance of both, there's nothing better than winning 1-0 as a defender, even if you haven't assisted or scored. But as an attacking full-back, the numbers with Reece James (at Chelsea) and Trent (Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool) are through the roof so it's about time I started stepping up and doing that."

Cash joined Villa from Nottingham Forest back in the summer of 2020 for £17million. Though, he had only produced two assists and scored one goal under former boss Dean Smith