Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill believes James Milner may have stayed at Newcastle had the Magpies not been in turmoil.
O'Neill and Villa now reaping rewards
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill believes James Milner may have stayed at Newcastle had the Magpies not been in turmoil.
Villa splashed out a club record £12 million for the England Under-21 player in August and whilst Ashley Young has received glowing reports, Milner has quietly gone about his business to the delight of O'Neill.
"I have been very pleased with him," said the Ulsterman.
"Taking players on is a big strength of his and he will only get better, he works exceptionally hard for the team and there is more to come from him."
Elated
Milner had a successful loan spell at Villa Park three years ago and O'Neill believes this was the crucial factor in his decision.
"I was delighted when he agreed to come here and his experience during his previous year at Aston Villa definitely had a big bearing on his thinking.
"He did very well here during a year-long loan and the crowd took to him. He enjoyed it immensely. That would have been the deciding issue."
O'Neill added: "There were a number of clubs interested in James.
"I was delighted to get him but, had things been right at Newcastle at the time, James may well have stayed there."
