Tough Aston Villa choices are fine by Martin O'Neill

Jan 1 2008 By Bill Howell

ASTON manager Martin O'Neill is delighted to be faced with a selection poser in the heart of his defence against Spurs - because he knows a year ago he was scratching around for players.

Zat Knight is available to return to face the free-scoring Cockerels after serving a one-match ban at Wigan for his sending off against Chelsea, giving O'Neill a nice headache.

"Roll these decisions on," the manager said. "This time last year we certainly didn't have this at all. We had nothing to choose from and were going out from game to game over the Christmas period.

"Now we have one or two players waiting in the wings. We have been a bit lucky in terms of injuries but who knows, that could change."

Knight's understudy at Wigan, Curtis Davies, not only scored a goal on his full debut but recovered from a shaky start to win O'Neill's praise for a solid performance after half-time.

O'Neill was delighted with Davies' "no frills" approach in difficult conditions.

"Curtis will be feeling a lot better. I thought he was splendid in the second half," O'Neill said. "It took him a wee bit of time to get used to everything around him - not just the conditions but the other players, all that type of stuff.

"He had to try to get some sort of understanding with Martin Laursen at the back but in the second half I thought he was outstanding.

"He really adjusted to the game. There were no frills about him but that game was not a day for frills.

"If you had time to control the ball and measure a pass out, then fine, but if you haven't got time then play the game simply.

"Saturday was a day for playing the game simply."