When it comes to playing for top teams and winning major honours, John Carew has a wardrobe full of T-shirts proclaiming "been there, done it."

But the 28-year-old Norwegian is as hungry as ever for success as he approaches his first anniversary in claret and blue. Never mind the fact he has won various cups and league titles during his travels around the continent, he is determined to help Villa to return to European football.

"I'm happy with the way my career has gone," he says. "I wouldn't change it for anything. I've been with teams who have won league titles and cups, and played in the Champions League with Valencia. I've been very lucky to have all those experiences. I won't look back wondering what it was like to play for a top team in Italy or Spain, because I've done it. I've also played in a Champions League final, so I wouldn't change any of that.

"But I hope to be a Villa player for many years. If they want me, I will do my best for them. It's good to be at a club with such big potential. Everything is here to help us succeed.

"There's no reason why Villa shouldn't get into Europe. We have a lot of talent and a great manager. There are also a lot of young players with great futures. Everything is set up for Villa to reach their goals in a short space of time."

Carew arrived late in the Premier League, having started his career in his native Norway before playing in Spain (for Valencia), Italy (AS Roma), Turkey (Besiktas) and France (Lyon), but he is finding the English game very much to his liking.

"I'm happy to be competing in the highest league in the world," he says. "All the leagues are different. France have produced some of the best players in the world over the past few years - people like Zinedine Zidane and Thierry Henry - but their league is not so strong. You have really good sides like Lyon, Paris St Germain and Marseille but the gap between those sides and the rest is really too big.

"I also had four years with Valencia and it was good to be competing against the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid on a regular basis, as well as playing in the Champions League.

"I'm not saying it's better or worse here than in La Liga or Serie A, but you have to be able to adapt. I got used to playing in Spain and in Italy but this is different again so I've had to change.

"This is another way of playing and I've had to get used to the speed of the game here. It's the quickest football I've ever known. There's also a lot more contact so I suppose you would say the football is tougher.

"I'm able to use my physique more in the Premier League. I had problems in Spain and Italy because a lot of fouls were given against me.

"But my size works more to my advantage here because referees allow a bit more toughness."

Despite his 6ft 5in frame, Carew has a deft touch which makes him a perfect target man. That was never more evident than when he turned past his marker to open the scoring in Villa's 3-0 win at Middlesbrough in November. And his goal haul would surely have been much higher but for a six-match absence after suffering knee ligament damage earlier in the season.

"Even though I'm tall I feel I have a good touch and I think that shows through in most matches," he says. "As a striker, I have to head the ball a lot but really prefer to have it played in to my feet so that I can turn past opponents and create goal opportunities.

"My injury came at the wrong time so I was a bit unlucky to miss a few matches, but that's football. Hopefully I can now stay fit and stay in the team for a long time. Things have gone well for me since I came back and I'm optimistic that they can get even better. But I never set myself goal targets. That sort of thing doesn't help you. I just take a match at a time - that's always been my philosophy.

"This is a very good environment. Everyone takes care of each other and it's a pleasure to be part of the group. Everyone has been a big help since I came here so I have nothing to complain about.

"I'm happy to have Martin O'Nell as a manger, too. He is great at getting the best out of players."