Aston Villa bolster backline by signing Richard Dunne and James Collins
Sep 1 2009 By Mat Kendrick OUR MAN AT VILLA
MARTIN O’Neill today completed a deadline-day defensive double by finally bolstering Villa’s backline with Richard Dunne and James Collins.
With the transfer window closing at 5pm today, Villa ended their summer-long search for rearguard reinforcements to replace Martin Laursen and Zat Knight.
Dunne concluded a protracted £6 million transfer after reaching a compromise with Manchester City over the terms of his Eastlands exit.
And O’Neill finalised a surprise swoop for Collins after West Ham yesterday accepted an offer, believed to be around £5million, for the Welsh international.
Despite the rise to prominence of rookie teenagers Shane Lowry and Ciaran Clark, who made an impressive debut in Sunday’s victory over Fulham, Villa were short of senior centre-halves.
With Curtis Davies seeing a specialist this week to discover if he needs surgery on his dislocated shoulder, Carlos Cuellar is O’Neill’s only established option at the heart of defence.
Villa are unlikely to make any more signings – unless an unexpected late opportunity presents itself – although Nicky Shorey is set to join Portsmouth on a year-long loan following Stephen Warnock’s arrival.
Meanwhile, Stiliyan Petrov has offered kind words to Gabby Agbonlahor following his man-of-the-match display against Fulham, despite the Brummie striker’s failure to make an England squad for the second time running.
And the skipper believes Agbonlahor will go from strength to strength when he is back up to speed following a delayed return to pre-season training.
“A lot of people forget Gabby has only been back three weeks,” he said.
“That was his second game since he came back so he is battling for his fitness.
“Against Liverpool he worked his socks off and was great for the team and never give up and it was the same on Saturday.
“That is Gabby. He is working hard to get fit and he will get better and better. It is very hard when you are on your own up front but he never complains, he keeps working and he is waiting for his chance.
“He took his goal very well, he looked sharp, he looked confident again. That is the Gabby we know.
