Paul Lambert's former Norwich City coaching duo Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa have been suspended by Aston Villa pending an internal investigation.

Well-respected coach and ex-Canaries' stalwart Culverhouse and City's former head of football operations Karsa will not be involved for Villa's Premier League game against Southampton this weekend. Lambert will instead be assisted by Gordan Cowans and Shay Given pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Villa declined to elaborate further in a club statement released on Tuesday afternoon which read: 'The club can confirm that Gordon Cowans and Shay Given have been temporarily promoted to assist manager Paul Lambert and his first team coaching staff. The club can also confirm in response to media speculation that Ian Culverhouse and Gary Karsa have been suspended pending an internal investigation.'

Culverhouse and Karsa left Norwich to join up again with Lambert in the Midlands in 2012 after a successful stint at Carrow Road that saw Norwich win promotion from League One and the Championship before consolidating in the Premier League. The duo had previously worked with Lambert at Colchester.

'I'm delighted to have Gordon and Shay to assist me in preparing the team for Saturday which is what the whole group is focused,' said Lambert.

Cowans added: 'The manager has asked me to step up to assist him at this time and I'll do my utmost for the club and the manager in helping prepare the team for Saturday's game against Southampton.'

Given is urging Villa's players to concentrate on the matter in hand and easing the club away from the relegation scrap. Villa are currently four points clear of the bottom three and have lost their last four games on the spin.

'As players, it's important that each and every one of us take responsibility right now and I'm delighted to play my part in helping the manager and the team go and try to win on Saturday,' he said.