Barry: Angel must be patient

Gareth Barry has told Juan Pablo Angel that he still has a future at Aston Villa.

Gareth Barry has told Aston Villa team-mate Juan Pablo Angel that he still has a future at the club if he is prepared to wait for his chance.

Angel has found himself on the sidelines since the arrival of strikers John Carew and Ashley Young in the transfer window, but Barry thinks the Colombian just needs to bide his time.

"It is a strange situation for Juan Pablo," he said. "John (Carew) has been brought in and he has the shirt at the moment and has quickly settled in.

"But Juan Pablo is experienced enough to know he has got to be patient and wait for his chance, whether it's through a bit of luck, through an injury or because other strikers are not doing the business.

"He knows things in football change quickly and he has to be ready when his chance comes. You can be out of the team one game and then back in it the next."

Angel, who joined the club from River Plate for £9.5million in 2000, remains the club's most expensive signing and, at 31, Barry feels he is still more than capable of posing a threat at the top level.

"Juan Pablo can definitely still play in the Premiership. The way the manager goes about his business, he would let Juan Pablo know if he couldn't.

"Maybe the new boys coming in will help him get back to his best. He's just waiting for his chance to play with John or Ashley and when he does that will revive him."