England Under-21 winger James Milner has expressed his delight at his switch to Aston Villa, and he asserted that “if I can't become a better player with Aston Villa, I'm not going to develop anywhere.”

The 22-year-old left Newcastle United for Villa Park in a permanent move today, after having spent the 2005-06 season on loan at Villa before being recalled by then Magpies boss Glenn Roeder.

Milner told Villa’s official website, avfc.co.uk: "A lot has happened at this club since I was last here and I'm obviously delighted to be back. I was so close a couple of years ago but now I'm back.

"We've got a new training ground and a lot of new faces - on the staff and in the playing squad.

"This is a club on the way up and things have got better and better every season since I was last here. It's an exciting time to be here. This is a great place to be now. There's lots of young English talent.

"The top-four are the top-four and Aston Villa are getting better and better. We should be challenging now and as we look to improve we will be challenging.

"We're in the UEFA Cup this season and hopefully we'll do well in that. The next step then is obviously the Champions League. That's what we're working towards."

He added: "Martin O'Neill was a massive pull and I was ready to sign for him two years ago. He's got a great record and he's a fantastic manager. Look at the job he's done wherever he's been.

"Look at the squad he's built here. There are players in the England squad and players pushing to be involved. A lot of that's down to the manager.

"I've played 180 Premier League games and been involved in Europe as well. I'm lucky enough that I started when I was 16 so I've got a lot of football under my belt.

"I'm obviously a lot more experienced than when I was last here but I'm still young and still learning. This is a superb place to be with the players, the manager and the coaching staff we have here.

"With the set-up that we have here now, if I can't become a better player with Aston Villa, I'm not going to develop anywhere."