Martin O'Neill ready to face former Aston Villa players

Apr 4 2008 By Bill Howell

MARTIN O'Neill is not fazed by the prospect of three former Aston Villa players being fired up for Bolton Wanderers and ready to prove him wrong.

And he insists he has no regrets over his decision to cash in on Gary Cahill.

Cahill and Jlloyd Samuel both sought pastures new after failing to break into O'Neill's team, while Gavin McCann left after a new contract failed to materialise.

All three are likely to raise their games at Villa Park, but O'Neill said: "I think players have points to prove every single week, and I think managers have points to prove every single week.

"Over the years, former play-ers coming back - some players have played very well and some have not done so cleverly on a given day.

"I just don't know. Our focus must be on ourselves."

By far the biggest wave of regret on the terraces was the loss of Cahill but O'Neill insists the £5million sale was good business.

"I was asked (at a recent press conference) if I regretted it and said I don't think you can see that far into the future," O'Neill said. He insisted he could never have foreseen the injury to Curtis Davies which has left Villa short at the back.

"The injury was very unfortunate for Curtis, but that is why we took on another centre-half (Zat Knight).

"That was primarily because I never thought Martin Laursen would play the games - not having done it since his AC Milan days.

"He has played a full season which is remarkable - and also we had Olof Mellberg playing and he could have switched to centre-half.

"I was not pushing Gary Cahill out the door - but I can understand him wanting to play first-team football, especially as he was down the pecking order.

"And once I get a fair price for a player, that is my job, so I am perfectly happy with it. I also think Gary really genuinely wants to play football."