Martin O'Neill: Nathan Delfouneso is a Premier League contender for Aston Villa

Dec 5 2008 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

confident the Brummie youngster would rise to the occasion. “I didn’t tell him until I announced the team,” said O’Neill.

“I said to him there might be a possibility that he would start when I was speaking to him the day before, but I said don’t bet on it.

“It was one of those where you don’t really want him to be vomiting overnight at the thought of it. But I knew his reaction would be fine and I was not surprised by the way he handled it.

“I thought he was terrific. He’s gone out with little fear and shown all the things I see every single week and the things that I saw last year in the youth team.

“It’s great to see a talent like that coming up.”

Meanwhile, O’Neill insists he has no regrets about fielding a weakened line-up against Zilina, despite the disappointing result. “I wish I had hindsight but I’d do exactly the same thing again,” he added.