Villa boss: More change needed

Six players from the 14 who figured against Boro in the 1-1 draw in November 2006 have moved on – Gary Cahill, Liam Ridgewell, Gavin McCann, Steven Davis, Juan Pablo Angel and Milan Baros.

And at least another two – out of contract duo Thomas Sorensen and Olof Mellberg – will follow them in the summer.

Add Peter Whittingham and Aaron Hughes – unused substitutes that day – Jlloyd Samuel, Lee Hendrie, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Didier Agathe, who have also since left, and Mark Delaney and Chris Sutton, who were forced to retire, and the changing face of Villa will show a turnover of 16 players by the end of the campaign.

Ironically, Villa finished the game in fifth – one place better off than they are now.

But with Scott Carson, Zat Knight, Curtis Davies, Nigel Reo-Coker, Ashley Young, John Carew and Shaun Maloney on board as replacements, no one would argue they are a much stronger force now.

"The main bulk of our squad have moved on," said O'Neill.

"We've had to try to replace.

"I heard someone talking the other day about the smallest squad in the Premier League.

"We can address that in the summer.

"I think it only brings it home to you when you get three serious injuries in the space of 48 hours last week – Curtis Davies, Stephen O'Halloran and Jonathan Hogg – how dangerous this game can be if you're carrying a small squad.

"But whether we qualify for Europe or not, we intend to strengthen in the summer.

"There has been a turnover of players already and we're steadily getting a better squad together."

One of the newer arrivals, Reo-Coker, replaced the 'enforcer' role taken on by McCann.

But the former West Ham captain bears more of a resemblance to Boro's powerful former Villa man George Boateng, who returns tonight.