D-Day looms on Gareth Barry's future

Jul 24 2008 By Bill Howell

MARTIN O’Neill has warned Liverpool that Villa will set a deadline to conclude the transfer of Gareth Barry.

And the manager admited the wantaway England midfielder is in line for a shock call-up against Odense on Saturday.

O’Neill says he cannot continue to wait on the Anfield club, who have offered £15million but have not met Villa’s asking price.

“It’s been unfortunate. We don’t know where we stand at this minute. Liverpool have not officially come back to us in any form of writing,’’ said O’Neill.

“It is a really awkward position and at some stage there will have to be a timescale on it because we cannot just keep going on.

“We have got our own plans to make and we shouldn’t be at the behest of Liverpool Football Club.

“We have got to get on with things. We have to pick up the pieces and I could go on forever and a day talking about it, it doesn’t really matter.

‘‘We have to see what develops. We have not heard back from them in an official capacity.”

Barry was given a run-out against Walsall on Tuesday and talks will now take place to discover whether he is ready to face the Danes.

“Why did I play him at Walsall? Why not? He belongs to us – he is our player,’’ continued O’Neill.

“He needs the games. If he is in the right frame of mind then we will explore everything. He will be in contention for Saturday.”

O’Neill was more than happy with Barry’s commitment at Walsall on Tuesday, when he was initially booed by a few hundred supporters but left the field to a favourable response.

“I have never not been impressed with him in two years regarding his attitude on the football pitch,’’ added O’Neill