O'Neill happy with WC battle

Villa boss hopes finals carrot will boost his side

Last updated: 24th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

O'Neill happy with WC battle

O'Neill: World Cup carrot

Related links

Teams

Also see

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill feels the lure of a World Cup finals place is helping to inspire his English stars.

The likes of James Milner, Ashley Young, Stephen Warnock, Emile Heskey, Stewart Downing, Gabril Agbonlahor and Curtis Davies will all be hoping to make the trip to South Africa next summer.

And O'Neill feels that the chance of playing in a World Cup finals will only help their form for Villa.

"The carrot of going with England to the World Cup and being part of that squad is very strong, very strong indeed," he said.

"Each of the players we have here, who have had a chance, have stated a reasonable claim for inclusion.

"I still think there is time and club performances will play a part.

"The next international match is in March so that's at least three months and is really big for the players.

"It is a good time now, with no internationals and they can concentrate on club football."

Fight

O'Neill would like to see all his England hopefuls go to South Africa, but he knows many of them are fighting for the same spots.

"In the scheme of things, it would be great to see three or four of the team go to the World Cup," he said.

"In reality it won't happen because we have players fighting over the same position."

O'Neill also made an open invitation to England coach Fabio Capello to come and check on the players at the club's training ground whenever he wants.

"I don't know whether it's in his nature to visit training grounds but he is welcome here any time at all," he said.

"In fact it would be a great boost to us for him to take time out and come here.

"Maybe after Christmas when the World Cup starts to build for him, whether it be at the ground or a call, I'm quite sure he will be in touch.

"I've met him a couple of times, like at a PFA dinner, and he went out of his way to come and speak to me.

"I also met him out in Spain at the Peace Cup in the summer in Andalusia as he lives out there.

"He was fine and he was very effusive about our players."