O’Neill Aiming For Top Four

Martin O’Neill says he hopes the arrival of John Carew and the pending transfer of Ashley Young shows that Villa mean business.

The Villa manager believes that the 27-year-old Norwegian striker Carew, could help fire Villa towards Champions League contention.

‘Aston Villa are capable of doing it – absolutely. It should be where the club is striving to go and it is up to us to try and get Villa to be a really strong football club. We have certainly got the fan base and we have certainly got the potential, there is no doubt about it. Under the new owner I believe Villa have a real fighting chance of doing it because I think he is really well intentioned.’

Adding: ‘If certain things come to fruition, then it will be worthwhile.’

I hadn’t realised our record was so bad in recent years, bad yes, not this bad, as we’ve not qualified through the league since 1998, although we did make a doomed appearance in the Uefa following our inter-two-bob win in 2001.

Meanwhile Milan Baros has spoken of his departure: ‘I hadn’t wanted to leave England at the time because I wished to develop in the Premiership. A new opportunity came when Lyon made their offer and I felt that it was the right moment to move.’

Having turned down Lyon once, he said he has no regrets about not going then but ‘Today the situation has changed and I am delighted to come here. I hope to bring all my qualities to the team.’