John Carew can fire us up says Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill
Mar 19 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail
JOHN Carew’s return to form in front of goal after four months of injury and waiting his turn could give Martin O’Neill the opportunity to hand Gabby Agbonlahor a much-needed rest.
Carew has not started a league game for Villa since the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on November 3.
But with Agbonlahor struggling for goals and form after a 41-game season so far for Villa, and with O’Neill likely to switch to one man up front for the trip to Liverpool this Sunday, there are suddenly selection issues facing the Villa manager.
“The great thing about it is that John Carew now is getting really properly fit,” said O’Neill of the big Norwegian, who has started three cup matches in the last six weeks.
“He played mostly a full game up at Everton in the absence of Emile Heskey in the FA Cup (in mid February).
“And now, in terms of proper sharpness and in the little training sessions that he has been doing recently, he has been really sharp.
“The two goals he has got (against Stoke and Tottenham) will have given him a big boost of confidence.”
Carew was suffering from fatigue when he broke a curfew ahead of the UEFA Cup match with Ajax in October.
Following that controversy he started just two matches in three months.
More recently he missed the away leg of the European tie in Russia whuch raised suspicions as to his dedication.
