Fitness concerns for Aston Villa boss Martin O''Neill

May 13 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

“He played a lot of games for Rangers last year, even games when he wasn’t fully fit,” said O’Neill.

“It has all come to haunt him. This is an illness, not an injury and I’m sure he’ll be glad to see the back of it.”

Young is looking to play at The Riverside Stadium, where he enjoyed a fine season for Boro before his £5million move to Villa.

But O’Neill admitted: “Luke is a concern. His foot is still a bit sore and we will see how he is.

“He didn’t train yesterday and we will see how he is the weekend. I’m sure in an ideal world he would rather be going back to his old stomping ground fully fit. In an ideal world he could have done with the extra week or so but obviously with Carlos being injured he volunteered to play and I was pleased with that.”

Barry was absent from Villa’s Player of the Season awards last night, along with Wilfred Bouma, but should shake off a virus. O’Neill added: “Gareth has missed training the last couple of days. He has been ill but he is hoping that he can recover in time.”