Sutton Happy & O’Neill Looking Ahead

Martin O’Neill has explained that the arrival of the likes of Chris Sutton and Agathe are ways to ‘bolster the squad’ short term ahead of the real fun this January and next summer when the spending can truly begin!

‘I’m looking at the January break, but I can’t concern myself with it. These are the things I’ve tried to do to bolster the squad in the shorter term and if it means bringing in people I know, then so be it. As for the window, we’ve got things on the go at the minute and I’ve got a fair idea now where we can now strengthen the side. It’s having the wherewithal to do this and Randy Lerner was happy for us to try to get James Milner at the time, so I don’t think we’d be found lacking in that aspect. ‘

‘I would hope that if we continue to keep going, that we’d be in a position to do something. I’m in a position where I’ve got a few things ‘on the go’ just in case anything happens and that’s where I am.’

Meanwhile, Chris Sutton says ‘I’m pleased it’s all sorted out now and I’m looking forward to getting started at Villa. Hopefully, I can fit in fairly well and knowing Stilian Petrov and Didier Agathe will obviously help. I don’t feel I’ve got a point to prove. I just want to do well. First and foremost, I want to get fully fit and get into contention. I’ll hopefully do that sooner rather than later and the aim is to soon be pushing for a starting place. Obviously, I want to be fit as soon as I can. I had an operation a while back and I’m still recovering from that.’