Lambert to remain cautious in market

Paul Lambert insists he is thriving on the challenge of rebuilding Aston Villa despite their current plight and will not sign players "just for the sake of it" during the January transfer window.

Villa are currently in the bottom three of the Barclays Premier League ahead of Saturday evening's derby clash with West Brom at the Hawthorns. Lambert has only limited funds to spend compared to the combined £30million club owner Randy Lerner spent on Darren Bent and Jean Makoun two years ago.

But the Villa manager is adamant any newcomers will have to improve the current squad, saying: "We'd try to do something if I thought the people we could get in would make it better. But, if we can't do it and I have to go with the group that's there, then I'll go with what's there."

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