Villa has no qualms with Lampard

The club won their first official match on Tuesday after beating St Mirren 2-0 in a friendly in Manchester.

Villa, one of the two biggest signings the newest MLS franchise has made, starred in a 45-minute cameo, scoring the opening goal and pulling several tricks out of the bag to wow the 2,000-strong crowd which had gathered at Manchester City's Academy Stadium.

Lampard, however, was nowhere to be seen. He was in Stoke preparing for Manchester City's Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium.

Lampard was due to join New York City in January, but he postponed his move to the Big Apple so he could see the season out with Manuel Pellegrini's men. Villa says he understands why Lampard chose to remain in England for a while.

"It would have been great if he was here now, but obviously for the football club the best thing is for him to stay in Manchester," Villa said.

"We are only going to be focused to work hard so that when he joins in July, we can be a team that is really good and he can only improve us."

New York City manager Jason Kreis is certain the club's fans will instantly warm to Lampard in July despite the furore surrounding the midfielder's move across the Atlantic.

"I think they will (receive him well)," said Kreis. "I think at the end of it all, when everybody is calmed down and settled down a little bit, that everybody can forgive and forget."

Kreis has grand ambitions for the club, owned by the wealthy backers behind Manchester City.