We don't need a rest, say Aston Villa trio
KEY Villa trio John Carew, Martin Laursen and Ashley Young have told Martin O’Neill they want to play against QPR in the Carling Cup tomorrow – even though all face being rested.
Carew limped out of Sunday’s derby victory at Albion after needing intensive treatment on a sprained ankle which had laid him low for the midweek win in Bulgaria.
The Norwegian ace believes the desire to play against QPR stems from a dressing room buzzing at being the centre of national media attention for the first time in a long while.
“We are on a great, great wave now. We are a very exciting team and I feel everybody is really interested in Aston Villa at the moment,’’ said Carew.
“This is an exciting team and people are now more interested in the players and the squad more than most teams in the Premier League.
“I’m just happy to be part of it.” Laursen did not play in either of the League Cup games last season against Wrexham or Leicester and O’Neill is likely to throw in Zat Knight and Carlos Cuellar tomorrow, while Young – who played just as a sub against Leicester last year – could lose out to Wayne Routledge on the flank.
Carew, nevertheless, insists he wants to face the Londoners as Villa look to continue their momentum in what is already the 11th game of their season.
“I am ready to play if needed,’’ said Carew. “It’s a really tough schedule but we are really fit now and playing so many games gets you really match fit.
“You get the match rhythm and as long as it doesn’t wear you out too much I think the players should try to play.”
Laursen says he feels no ill effects from facing Spurs, Litex Lovech and Albion in quick succession.
“I haven’t spoken to the manager yet but if he wants to rest me then that’s up to him,’’ Laursen said.
“Obviously I have played a lot of games. I’ve played two games with Denmark as well so he might have that in his thoughts. I’ve played three games in six days but I feel great. The decision is his and we will see what happens.”
Young is happy to leave the decision down to O’Neill but has revealed a preference to play despite a recent knee injury at Tottenham.
“I think every player wants to play in every game,’’ he said.
“I’m no different to that. I missed the game in Bulgaria with a bad knee and I was disappointed about that. I want to play in every game and if the manager wants to change it, he wants to change it. It’s down to him at the end of the day.”
Meanwhile, O’Neill said today that talks are still ongoing with Ashley Young and Stiliyan Petrov over new deals and the manager is also keen for Isaiah Osbourne to extend his contract.
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