FOR a 26-year-old Ashley Westwood has been through a lot in football already.

Over 300 career games, promotion, relegation, an FA Cup final and recently becoming the scapegoat for the troubles over his former team.

Westwood admits he's not a flash player, in his words he likes to 'keep it simple', he describes his style as something similar to that of midfield metronome Michael Carrick.

But as Aston Villa's troubles began to take hold the uncomplicated Westwood became the whipping boy for the Holte End and for many Villa fans a symbol of their under performing side.

That he retained the trust of Villa Park's procession of managers once Paul Lambert left says a lot for the Nantwich-born Westwood, but when Sean Dyche came calling in January he was more than ready for a change of scenery, adding that the Clarets chief had 'rescued' him.

"I was ready to travel to Brentford with Villa (on January 30), and then the manager, Steve Bruce, pulled me in and said that they'd accepted a bid from Burnley and I was more than happy," the former Crewe Alexandra youngster said.

"I packed my bags and off up the road I went.

"I wanted to give it one more go at Villa because I felt I deserved to try and get them back up but it wasn't meant to be. Thankfully the gaffer here has come in for me, rescued me and I'm back in the top flight now."

Westwood's move to Villa Park for £2million as a 22-year-old saw him move to the Premier League after helping Crewe win promotion from League Two.

But after a bright start under Paul Lambert his time in the Midlands become more difficult as Villa began to struggle on the pitch, although it is an experience he believes he is better for.

"I'm adaptable, I get on with people, but I've certainly got a tough skin now from my time at Villa," he reflects.

"It makes you a bigger person and it helps you grow up really quickly. I was 24 when times were bad but it made me grow up and become a man.

"It's not been nice but coming here I've been given another chance by the gaffer and hopefully I can repay him.

"At Villa Paul Lambert brought me in and he was tremendous. He was there two years and I've had about five managers in four years. They have been tough times but this is a well set up club and it's where I want to play my football."

He added: "Going from Crewe to Villa was a massive move for me. It was an eye-opener at a big club but I've played in the Premier League now and I see it as a fresh start to get my career back on track.

"I've had a few setbacks, some not very nice words said over the time, but you get that as a footballer. Now I've got a fresh start with a great set of lads."

After Lambert Westwood played under Tim Sherwood, Remi Garde and Roberto Di Matteo in their brief spells in the Villa Park hotseat, but he has nothing but good words for new boss Steve Bruce.

"It's a shame that he wasn't in there earlier," he said. "He was good with me, the fans were getting on my back, and he told me that I needed a fresh start. He was brilliant with that."

Westwood made his Clarets debut off the bench at Watford but with Dean Marney and Steven Defour injured and Jeff Hendrick suspended he could be in from the start against Premier League leaders Chelsea on Sunday.

So what can the Turf Moor faithful expect to see from Westwood?

"When I first joined Villa I said that I was like Michael Carrick," he explains. "I keep it simple. He's very underrated.

"I know I need to do more, I need to get fitter, get around the pitch more, close people down and I think the gaffer here will bring that out of me.

"I like to get on it and keep it simple. I'm not flash, I know what I do. I'll work hard in every game.

"Don't expect me to beat five men and score a goal, that's not my game. I like to keep things ticking over and hopefully I can add that to the team."

It's no surprise to hear Westwood talk of the importance of keeping the ball and keeping it moving given his development in the famed Crewe Alexandra youth system.

He made his first-team debut for the Railwaymen at the age of 18, over a decade after first joining the club.

"Since I was six I had it instilled in me to keep the ball on the ground, one touch, two touch, and that's my role basically," he said. "Keep it simple and keep the tempo going. I need to add a bit more; I think coming here I'll get fitter and my body will be conditioned to that because I need to go to the next level now."

Westwood joined the Clarets on the same day as record signing Robbie Brady. While Brady was coming into a dressing room featuring three international teammates as well as a number of former club colleagues, Westwood's sole existing connection was right-back Matt Lowton, who he played with at Villa.

But it's not taken him long to settle in and he is full of praise for spirit in the camp at Gawthorpe.

"I know Lowts very well but I'd been here two days and I already feel like I know them all years," said Westwood. "They are a great bunch and that's what is standing them in good stead now.

"Watching them against Leicester I thought they were terrific. Even on Saturday I thought they were brilliant with 10 men. Coming in to the game you can see it in the player's faces, the spirit among the group is second to none."