Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert has praised Barry Bannan for his response after being dropped earlier in the season.

The 23-year-old midfielder, who sat out four games for the club last month, played a starring role in Saturday's vital 3-2 victory over Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League.

"No one is happy when they are left out and that will never change, but I had a chat with Barry and he has responded in a really good way," Eurosport quotes Lambert as saying.

"This has been Barry's first season of being in the first team for long periods, then being taken out and being in and out.

"Sometimes you need to do that to young players, take them out and give them a break, and then put them back in and get the impetus from that."

Bannan was recalled to the Scotland squad on Tuesday for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Serbia.

Written by
Jack Prescott