Kevin MacDonald joins Aston Villa as assistant manager

This will be Kevin MacDonald's third stint as part of the Aston Villa coaching set-up

Aston Villa have appointed Kevin MacDonald as assistant manager.

The 54-year-old has previously worked at Villa as both reserve team manager and caretaker boss following the exit of Martin O'Neill in 2010.

MacDonald will take his place alongside new manager Tim Sherwood for Saturday's Premier League visit of Stoke.

He leaves Nottingham Forest to join first-team coach Mark Robson and performance analyst Seamus Brady in Sherwood's new-look backroom team.

Former Barnet manager Robson, 45, joined Villa on Thursday as the first addition to Sherwood's staff following the latter's appointment as Paul Lambert's successor last week.

Mark Robson has worked with England's Under-17s set up

"Mark came in to Tottenham a lot, I have watched him work and watched his teams play when they came to play us," said Sherwood.

Robson, who left his role as assistant first-team coach at Norwich City in January, worked alongside Dutch legend Edgar Davids at Barnet in 2012.

"He is diligent, organised and gives me exactly what I need in the role I want him to play," said Sherwood.

Former Tottenham, West Ham and Charlton midfielder Robson replaced Scott Marshall, who left Villa on Tuesday.

Marshall was in charge of Villa for their 2-1 FA Cup fifth-round victory against Leicester City on Sunday.