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Aston Villa chief Paul Lambert insists there is no rift between him and axed defender Matt Lowton.

Lowton, 24, failed to make the Scot’s squad for their match at Cardiff last week - and he was dropped for last month’s trip to Liverpool after turning up late for training.

It comes after the ex-Sheffield United man missed just one league game last term in what was his first season in the top flight - the high point being a goal of the season screamer against Stoke which proved key to the Villans’ survival.

Lambert said: “I just left him out. I had to pick a team that I thought was right.

“He’s been fine. I don’t want people writing I’ve fallen out with him, because that’s nonsense.

“There’s no such thing.”