Stephen O'Halloran faces loan from AstonVilla

Feb 26 2008 By Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

STEPHEN O'Halloran could yet leave Villa on a short-term loan deal, but Isaiah Osbourne will now remain at the club after breaking back into the squad.

O'Halloran endured a frustrating month at Southampton where he made just one appearance as a substitute.

Osbourne was set to go on loan to Leicester but the move was blocked when Gareth Barry picked up a pelvic injury before the trip to Liverpool last month.

Osbourne has made three successive substitute's appearances, albeit for eight minutes all told, and was required at Reading with Nigel Reo-Coker not fully recovered from a bug.

However, manager Martin O'Neill is still pondering a switch for Republic of Ireland defender O'Halloran.

"I wouldn't have thought Isaiah would be going anywhere. We don't have the squad," O'Neill said.

"I'll have a think about Stephen. That's a possibility because his chances were thwarted at Southampton and I will certainly have a look at his situation."

Meanwhile, O'Neill will keep faith with Barry on spot-kicks despite his first miss of the season at Reading.

John Carew is pushing for the role after his successful conversion against Newcastle, but O'Neill said: "I'm happy (for Barry to continue). As he went up to take it his foot slipped away. It is not a problem for me."