O'Leary challenge for Vass

David O'Leary has challenged Darius Vassell to recapture his best form.

The England striker has endured a stuttering campaign that has been interrupted by injuries and that, ultimately, has cost him his place in Sven Goran Eriksson's England squad.

However, Vassell completed his first 90 minutes in six months last weekend against Newcastle and put in the type of shift that has enthused O'Leary.

The Irishman believes Vassell is capable of rediscovering the type of form that has made him a persistent thorn for Premiership defences in the past couple of seasons.

''Darius was excellent and he's got to do that week in and week out,'' said O'Leary.

''He has to put together a run from now until the end of the season.

''If he keeps doing it then that's the type of form that will take him back into the England set-up.

''Performances like that can't be a one-off. He needs to do that over a sustained period and then he'll get back in.

''That's his challenge. I've told him that form is his way of getting back into the England set-up.''