O'Neill's midfield options grow

Fans are anxious Villa have only added one signing so far in Nigel Reo-Coker after losing seven players in the last three months.

But O'Neill is confident he will sign more than adequate replacements and has one already in Reo-Coker.

O'Neill reckons with Reo-Coker, Gareth, Barry, Stiliyan Petrov, Craig Gardner and Isaiah Osbourne, Villa have a competitive central midfield, despite the loss of Steven Davis, Gavin McCann and Lee Hendrie.

"We've got an intriguing combination with Barry, Petrov and young Craig Gardner, who has been tremendous," said O'Neill.

"Kenny Dalglish once said it never works out that way because you always get injuries and suspensions.

"So we'll need to go back in and strengthen again which is my intention."

O'Neill expects Reo-Coker to be a part of the Villa squad for years to come as he sets about building a predominantly young and hungry side.

"Power, energy and aggression are things he'll give us in abundance, and that's pretty necessary," added O'Neill.

"He's got youth on his side and I'm trying to get a young side together that's going to try to develop.

"I think they will do in time – it's only for old-timers like me that you want them to develop more quickly.

"But I think he'll be a driving force for us."

At 23, Reo-Coker became West Ham's youngest captain since Bobby Moore when he took the skipper's armband and was just minutes from lifting the FA Cup

last year after being part of their promotion-winning squad, as well as leading the England under-21s.

"He's packed a lot in in such a short space of time and that's all more power to him for being able to do it," said the boss.

O'Neill believes Reo-Coker possesses the character of his former Northern Ireland war-horse Neil Lennon, who the Villa boss signed for Leicester and Celtic.

He added: "I had Lennon for five years at Leicester and five years at Celtic and I'm not so sure he was captain that many times.

"But he played like a captain every single week and he was a leader.

"So I see similarities in personality. Nigel is exactly the same as Neil Lennon."