O'Neill weighs up Routledge bow

Winger in frame for Villa debut

Last updated: 3rd April 2008

Wayne Routledge Aston Villa England

Routledge: Confidence boost

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Martin O'Neill admits he may turn to Wayne Routledge in an effort to stem a run of three straight Premier League defeats.

The 23-year-old has yet to make his first-team bow since his £1.25m move from Tottenham in January.

But according to the Villa boss the former England Under 21 international has impressed in the reserves and is now in contention for Saturday's visit of Bolton to Villa Park.

O'Neill told the club's official website: "I think Wayne is starting to slowly regain his confidence.

Low on confidence

"He can deliver. He's got nice feet and a nice turn of pace. He's getting back to the player we know he can be.

"It's definitely a confidence thing. Once you stop going past players, for whatever reason, and maybe someone is telling you to do something different in the game you can find yourself low on confidence.

"All of that will come back once he's regularly beating players and knows he can beat players. Once he gets it in his mind that he can, he'll be fine because that wee turn of pace he has is enough to beat players."