Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has insisted that the club needs to rid itself of its "losing mentality".

The Villans narrowly avoided relegation from the Premier League last season, losing their final two matches of the campaign to end up in 17th - just three points above the drop zone.

Sherwood is eager to see a change in attitude from his players ahead of what is his first full season as manager, and believes that bringing in a handful of new faces could help in that respect.

"I said in the latter stages of last season that there is, unfortunately, a losing mentality in the dressing room at Aston Villa," the former Tottenham Hotspur boss is quoted as saying by PA.

"It is something we need to get rid of. It would help by bringing in new players who are used to winning and, also, it is for my staff to instil into them that it is a clean sheet. Everyone is on a level playing field and we need to move forward.

"It needs to hurt the players as much as it hurts me to lose football matches."

Villa begin their 2015-16 campaign away to Premier League newcomers Bournemouth.