Martin O'Neill happy with smiling Stiliyan Petrov

Apr 14 2008

MARTIN O'Neill believes Villa are reaping the benefits of having a smiling and confident Stiliyan Petrov back in their midfield.

But he promised today that there is plenty more yet to come from the £6.5million play-maker.

The Bulgarian scored a Goal-of-the-Season certainty in the 6-0 romp at Derby - his first for Villa since April.

Petrov was dropped at half-time against Newcastle and spent the next five games out of the team. But after a difficult recall at Manchester United he has shone against Bolton and Derby and O'Neill is delighted.

"It was a magnificent goal,'' the boss said of Petrov's 45-yard stunner.

"To have the confidence to try it was the big thing.

"Maybe a couple of weeks ago he would have been less inclined.

"But his performance last week was great, and he was fantastic at Derby. That is a confident Stiliyan Petrov for you."

O'Neill points out that Petrov is still being asked to play a very different role to that which carved his name in Celtic folklore.

"I still maintain he is playing in a different position,'' O'Neill said.

"He played more of an attacking role (at Celtic) but when you have the likes of Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton playing centre-forward - and John Hartson at his very best playing centre-forward - then you know as an attacking midfielder that you can go beyond them and they can play you through.

"Here he is adjusting and is enjoying himself immensely. I think there is much, much more to come from him. His performance at Derby was terrific - taking it off the back four. He looked composed and that was very important."