NEW ASTON VILLA manager Paul Lambert has reassured his players that they will receive a fresh start in the coming season.

The Villans endured a miserable 2011-12 campaign under Alex McLeish, narrowly retaining their Premier League status with a 16th-placed finish.

Lambert has stepped in at Villa Park following the dismissal of McLeish having guided Norwich City to an impressive 12th place in their first year back in the top flight.

And the Scot says he will give his new squad a fresh start under his management and insists he will try to keep things simple for them.

“It’s the first day for everyone and it’s new and fresh,” Lambert told reporters. ”When a new manager comes in, there is always a bit of trepidation amongst the players about what is going to happen.

“But we are not going to complicate things and hopefully they will respond and, if they do that, then we’ll be fine. I’m not going to ask them to do anything which is alien to them. I’m going to get them to play to their strengths.”

Lambert also revealed that he would be looking to establish what the players felt held them back last season to develop a positive mentality moving forward.

“I’ll speak to them as a group and then I might speak to one or two individuals to get a bit of background about what it’s been like,” he said. ”I think mentality is important in terms of how you handle things and how you deal with players, and hopefully the players will get the same ideas as myself.”

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