Laursen issues Villa warning

Defender believes Villa must tread carefully

Last updated: 18th July 2008

Aston Villa defender Martin Laursen

Laursen: Wary of early start

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Martin Laursen has warned his Aston Villa team-mates not to let their early start to the season take its toll later on.

Villa open their competitive campaign in Denmark on Saturday when they tackle Danish outfit Odense in the Intertoto Cup.

Victory in the two-legged tie will secure a place in next month's Uefa Cup final qualifying round and, in all probability, the competition proper, heaping more demands on Martin O'Neill's men.

And although O'Neill is doing his best to strengthen a squad he felt was too short of numbers last season, Laursen realises the importance of not doing too much too soon.

Fatigue

"We have had three games to get the feeling of playing in a match again and hopefully that will help us to be comfortable out on the pitch again," he told Villa's official website.

"But it is a long pre-season and we have started back very early, so it is important the coaches try to manage that and make sure we don't get tired in the middle of the season."