New Aston Villa signing Ashley Westwood wants to emulate Crewe Alexandra graduate David Platt by becoming a Holte End hero.
Westwood, 22, is the first Crewe player to follow the trail blazed by Platt when the former England midfielder moved from Gresty Road to Villa Park in 1988.
His £2 million signing on transfer deadline day will bring inevitable comparisons with Platt, who enjoyed a glittering period at Villa, which catapulted him into the international spotlight.
Westwood insists he will not be weighed down by the added baggage of being expected to live up to the achievements of one of Dario Gradi's most famous exports from Crewe.
"I've been told what a great player he was for Villa and I'm here to try and do my best for this club too," he said. "It's something I'll just have to take on my shoulders if that's the challenge people are setting for me. I'll be happy if I can get anywhere near to that kind of level. I'll take it in my stride, but if I can be half as good as him then I'll be happy."
Westwood came through the ranks at Crewe's academy under the watchful eye of mentor Gradi and he revealed there is a permanent reminder of Platt at the club's training ground.
"I was only just born when he scored that famous goal for England against Belgium in the 1990 World Cup," he said. "We'd got that picture up at the Crewe training ground and somebody told me they asked David Platt 'What's the best goal you've ever scored?', thinking he would say that one. But, apparently, he said he's scored a better one against Stockport for Crewe. That's the kind of player we've been told to look up to and to try to emulate coming through at Crewe."
