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Bill Howell

Bill Howell

Salifou's eager to make Villa impact

MARTIN O'Neill believes that African midfielder Moustapha Salifou is hungry to make up for lost time with his deadline-day signing finally set to arrive at Villa today. Read

Martin O'Neill

Villa boss aiming to give Reds a real test

MARTIN O'Neill believes his Villa side will give high-flying Manchester United a severe test - as long as his internationals return unscathed from Euro 2008 duty today. Read

John Carew

Carew still short of match fitness

JOHN Carew is back on the training pitch but Martin O'Neill is unlikely to see him for another fortnight. Read

Patrik Berger

Boost for Villa as duo return to fitness

MARTIN O'Neill has welcomed Patrik Berger and Craig Gardner back to full training but it is a mixed bag of news for the Villa boss. Read

Gareth Barry

Barry's taking centre stage for England - O'Neill

MARTIN O'Neill has priased Gareth Barry for not just seizing his chance with England but becoming an "important cog" in Steve McClaren's team. Read

Craig Gardner

Gardner fitness boost for Villa

CRAIG Gardner has given Villa an injury boost by declaring he should be ready to face Manchester United on Saturday. Read

Wilfred Bouma

Bouma pays tribute to Villa boss

WILFRED Bouma has praised Martin O'Neill for transforming him into an accomplished Premier League performer. Read

Craig Gardner

Villa groundwork is paying off for Gardner

ASHLEY Young believes that Craig Gardner is beginning to reap the benefits of endless hours of work at Bodymoor Heath. Read

Martin Laursen

Laursen: Why I want to stay at Villa

MARTIN Laursen has revealed the reasons why he wants to stay on at Villa after the end of his contract. Read

Gabriel Agbonlahor tussles with West Ham's Matthew Upson.

O'Neill tips Gabby for England success

MARTIN O'Neill believes Gabby Agbonlahor's time will come as a full England international as today he proclaimed the Villa striker "a real player". Read

Ashley Young

Villa midfielder eager to take his England chance

ASHLEY Young says it was even more "special" for him to retain his place in Steve MacLaren's England squad than it was to win his first call-up last month. Read

Gareth Barry

Why Barry is crucial to England's hopes

SOMEBODY help me...I'm struggling to think of a time when a Villa player was so crucial to England. Read

Martin Laursen

Victory showed Villa's character - Laursen

MARTIN Laursen says the victory over West Ham proved as much about the depth of character in the squad as it did about their performances on the park. Read

Martin Laursen

Laursen happy to play the pain game

MARTIN Laursen has vowed to keep sticking his head where it hurts at a time when he has urged his Villa team-mates to not get carried away with their fine start to the season. Read

Gareth Barry

Barry: I'll handle the international pressure

GARETH Barry heads into England's back-to-back Euro qualifiers against Estonia and Russia adamant that he can handle the pressure that goes with being a man now firmly in the spotlight. Read

Villa's home guard is ready for United

ZAT Knight has warned Manchester United that Villa Park is becoming a fortress. Read

Zat Knight

Knight keen to win more England caps

ZAT Knight has spoken of his determination to break back into the full England fold. Read

Craig Gardner

Gardner takes his chance at Villa

MATCH-winner Craig Gardner earned more plaudits from Martin O'Neill but has been told not to take his set-piece role for granted. Read

Nigel Reo-Coker

Hammers fail to nail Reo-Coker

VILLA manager Martin O'Neill praised Nigel Reo-Coker for his coolness under pressure after the midfielder shrugged off the taunts of West Ham fans to help his new club register an important victory. Read

O'Neill: Tottenham draw took its toll

MARTIN O'Neill believes Villa suffered from a White Hart Lane hangover as they failed to keep up their first-half momentum against West Ham. Read

Author Profile

Bill Howell started covering Midlands football for the Sunday Mercury in March 1998. He moved to the Birmingham Mail, writing solely on Aston Villa, following the 2000 FA Cup Final. Previously he was a sports reporter in Aberdeen, covering the Old Firm, and before that he was a news reporter in East London.

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