Fitness concerns for Aston Villa boss Martin O''Neill

May 13 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

MARTIN O’Neill has a trio of players facing fitness tests ahead of the weekend trip to Middlesbrough.

Carlos Cuellar has been “hit for six” through illness, which has also laid low Gareth Barry this week, while Luke Young has been playing with an injured foot for some weeks.

Cuellar has missed the last two games.

“He’s done a little bit of training. He’s feeling a bit better,” said O’Neill.

“We are hoping he will have a chance to be in contention for selection for Saturday.

“It might be a wee bit early yet, he has done some training and hasn’t shown any major effects from that which is encouraging.

“It has knocked him for six. He had no proper pre-season training and I’m not sure that stood him in any great stead.’’

Cuellar has started an impressive 22 league games this year, 31 in all competitions, but that is still way short of the 36 league starts and 63 in all competitions he made in Scotland last year.