PAUL LAMBERT has defended Aston Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood, insisting he is “not a dirty player”.

Westwood was booked during the closing stages of last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat against Liverpool for a challenge on Jordan Henderson.

However, replays showed the former Crewe player may have been fortunate to escape a red card as he was showing his studs when connecting with the midfielder.

Villa boss Lambert, whose side visit Stoke City tomorrow, said: “He’s got the ball. I know what people are saying because of the way he’s gone in but he has actually got the ball.

“If he had got the lad, then it’s a different matter.

“You are not sitting telling me that Westwood is a dirty player.

“He’s nowhere near that.

“He doesn’t need to be dirty because he doesn’t give the ball away.”

Lambert also brushed off further speculation regarding the future of 18-goal Christian Benteke, who has been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, and stressed he wants Benteke to stay at Villa following his £8m move from Genk last summer.

He said: “We get linked with everyone but I don’t pay too much attention to speculation.

“We gave Christian the opportunity to go and perform and he has been excellent with the way he has performed and led the line.

“He has been excellent for us.

“What is he worth now?

“You’d have to have quite a lot of money to try and get him.

“In the modern day market, it can be whatever it wants.”