Carew - I have improved

Now striker aims to use Villa stint to help Norway

Last updated: 4th February 2008

Carew - I have improved

Carew: Feels he has got better

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Aston Villa striker John Carew feels he has improved as a footballer during his 12 months in the Premier League.

Carew joined Villa from French champions Lyon in January last year and has impressed during his time in English football.

He is enjoying playing for Martin O'Neill's side and is hoping he can help the club qualify for European football.

"My game has improved in England," said Carew. "It is more physical and I have had to cope with that.

"I am not just on my own up front, I now get around the pitch more and have a player alongside me who plays off me. All that is different and something for me to learn.

"I enjoy it here. Things have gone well for me and the team, and although we have had a couple of disappointing results of late we are still very close and can still fight for a European place."

Big disappointment

Carew is also keen for his experiences in the Premier League to aid Norway on the international arena after the failure to reach Euro 2008.

The giant forward added: "We are still very disappointed to have failed to qualify for the European finals.

"It was a big disappointment. We still find it hard to understand why we didn't make it. We just needed a point from our final home game with Turkey and still could not achieve that.

"That happens, but it was very disappointing. You think about it for weeks and weeks and wonder how it happened. Then when the draw is made for the finals you think about it again.

"It has been hard to get over it. But we must now start again and try to put a side together that will get us to the World Cup finals."