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Stoke City manager Paul Lambert has revealed he wanted to keep Marc Albrighton when he was manager at Aston Villa, but couldn’t afford him.

Albrighton, who had been at Villa from the age of eight, was allowed to leave Villa Park on a free transfer and join City in the summer of 2014.

Albrighton said at the time he was shocked not to be offered a new contract having been told not to worry about the situation, and that he had received no explanation.

Nearly four years later, Lambert has admitted he had no choice but to let Albrighton, who has gone on to win the Premier League title with City and become the first player to score in the Champions League for the club, leave.

“Believe it or not we couldn't afford to keep him at Aston Villa,” said Lambert.

“He has done great since, he really has. He is a terrific lad, great work ethic and a really nice kid as well. It's no surprise me how well he has done.

“Did anyone expect them to win the league? Probably not, but fair play to them, and he played his part. You don't begrudge a player like that, no.

“He's a good kid, a nice kid as well and deserves all the credit he got.”

Albrighton isn’t the only City player Lambert has admiration for and he knows the main threat to his relegation battlers will come from striker Jamie Vardy and winger Riyad Mahrez.

Vardy is looking to make it six consecutive games in which he has scored, while Lambert believes Mahrez is getting back to his best after the disruption of his failed move to Manchester City last month.

“Vardy is a terrific striker given where he has come from,” said Lambert ahead of his side’s visit to the King Power Stadium.

“Most of the goals come from him and Mahrez. It's not just that sort of thing, his work ethic is huge.

“He seems to close things down, run after lost causes. He has been a great player for Leicester.

“Mahrez has had a brilliant couple of years at Leicester.

“When things like that happen, Man City coming calling, he can't go, maybe his head is a bit.

“You have to win the fans back over, it's a difficult one. It looks like he has won them back over. It must have been a strange situation to find yourself in.”