Ramsey hopes for 'pinch me moment'

Walking out to the Champions League music again will be a "pinch me moment" for Jacob Ramsey, who will be hoping to help Aston Villa automatically qualify for a place in the knockout stages.

Speaking before Wednesday's game against Celtic, Ramsey said: "Any Champions League game is always big, especially at Villa Park.

"We need three points for a chance of automatic qualification. It will be a tough match, Celtic fans will bring atmosphere and so will Villa fans.

"From where I've come from, the academy when I was eight, to play [in the] Champions League at 23, at Villa Park, with family and friends in the stadium, before the game I'm sure when the music and anthem come on I'll be looking to family and friends - it's a pinch me moment, then after that - focus on the game."

Ramsey scored his first goal for Villa since September against West Ham on Sunday and after a spell on the sidelines he said it was "really good to get the feeling again".

"I hadn't scored in a while at Villa Park, the past 12 months I've had three/four big injuries, but when you come back from injury it takes three/four games to get the rhythm back and I'm doing that now," said Ramsey.

It's now almost five years since the Englishman made his debut for Doncaster Rovers against Tranmere on a loan move from Villa. He remembers the "terrible" pitch on that February day in 2020 and notes that a Champions League night offers a "completely different" environment.

"Five years later I'm playing Champions League - which shows how quickly football and life can change - I hope tomorrow brings a good moment like five years ago," he said.

"I'm still only 23, I'm still young in the game and I've played a lot of football for my age. One minute you're 10/10 the next you're 3/10. I try to keep a level head and stay humble as football can change so quickly."