Aston Villa: O'Neill is optimistic of Sidwell's return
Sep 30 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail
Steve Sidwell
MARTIN O’Neill is optimistic that Steve Sidwell will be fit to face Manchester City after hailing the best form of the talismanic midfielder’s Villa career.
Sidwell returned to light training yesterday after injuring his thigh during the warm-up ahead of last Wednesday’s Carling Cup victory over Cardiff.
And O’Neill is hopeful the former Chelsea dynamo will be available for Monday after raving about his previous performance against Portsmouth.
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“Steve did a little bit of training with the physio yesterday,” said O’Neill.
“He has not felt the effects of any running he did on Monday either.
“Fingers crossed, if he comes through the next couple of days he might join in with the team on Friday with a view to Monday.
“It’s looking better but I would still be cautious.”
Since his Premier League debut defeat against Middlesbrough last November, Sidwell has never lost a top-flight game he has started for Villa.
And that impressive record continued when he was sidelined for Villa’s first defeat in seven games against Blackburn at Ewood Park on Saturday.
O’Neill is delighted with how Sidwell has tried to recover from his stop-start first season at Villa by staking a claim for the place vacated by Gareth Barry.
