Stewart Downing has revealed Villa's midfielders often swap positions in a bid to confuse the opposition.
Villa ace enjoys chopping and changing positions
Stewart Downing has revealed Aston Villa's midfielders often swap positions in a bid to confuse the opposition.
With the likes of Downing, Milner and Ashley Young in Martin O'Neill's midfield the trio possess the versatility to chop and change positions.
Although O'Neill sets out his troops to play in certain areas the players sometimes interchange with each other to mix things up.
Downing, who recently recovered from a long-term injury, has confirmed he is enjoying playing for Villa thanks to their special tactics.
Swap around
"The boss says I start on the left, Ash on the right with James in the centre," Downing told the
Daily Star.
"But if we want to switch around for five minutes, then to do it.
"This works because it creates problems for the other team and give us another dimension in attack.
"When I joined Villa, the manager made it clear all three of us could play in different positions.
"But right now it is me and Ash who are doing most of the changing while James tends to sit in the middle.
"I'm really enjoying it because switching wings and positions means you're always involved in a game."
