Villa at full strength - 7M sport

Villa at full strength

Posted Sunday, May 09, 2010 by PA

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has a full-strength squad to call on for the final Barclays Premier League game of the season against Blackburn.

O'Neill has reported no injury problems ahead of the clash at Villa Park. England striker Emile Heskey is again set to start on the bench with John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor, who have scored 33 goals between them, leading the attack.

Villa have already clinched a place in the Europa League but need a win to be assured of a sixth-placed finish ahead of Liverpool.

Villa have already played Blackburn four times this season - losing in the Premier League but beating them in the FA Cup and in both legs of the Carling Cup semi-final.

Villa won the second-leg at Villa Park 6-4 and O'Neill added: "We played an epic semi-final against Blackburn and a repeat of that result would be great for the supporters.

"On the night Blackburn got themselves two goals in front and we had to fight back. It was a terrific game after getting the better of them in the FA Cup a few days earlier.

"They beat us at Ewood Park in the league with a late penalty and from our view point just to win the game is the most important issue."

O'Neill rates the 6-4 win as one of his highlights of the season and he added: "There have been a number of great moments.

"That epic semi-final against Blackburn at Villa Park to get to the Carling Cup Final was one of them and getting back to Wembley was great news for the football club.

"These are the tangible signs of progress but in the main it is the league form.

"It is about the matches we have won to prove that we can compete at the top level and the players are improving.

"But great moments, like winning at Anfield and Old Trafford, are touched with some disappointment such as losing the Carling Cup Final, the FA Cup semi-final defeat against Tottenham and the defeat at Chelsea."

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce may give young Algerian midfielder Amine Linganzi his debut.

The 20-year-old, who moved from French club St Etienne in January, is viewed as an exciting prospect and may come in for Steven Nzonzi, who has had an operation to remove some teeth.

El-Hadji Diouf will also miss his side's last game of the season after having his tonsils out.

Tag:


Attention: Third parties may advertise their products and/or services on our website.7M does not warrant the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of their contents.
Your dealings with such third parties are solely between you and such third parties and we shall not be liable in any way for any loss or damage of any sort incurred by you.