Aston Villa: Martin O'Neill invites Fabio Capello to Villa training ground

Nov 28 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

MANAGER Martin O’Neill has invited England head coach Fabio Capello to Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training base in the run-up to next summer’s World Cup finals.

Emile Heskey, James Milner, Ashley Young, Gabby Agbonlahor, Stewart Downing and Stephen Warnock will all fancy their chances of being in the squad for South Africa.

And O’Neill, who has met with Capello on a couple of occasions in recent months, insists the Three Lions chief is more than welcome to phone him up or watch Villa train.

“I don’t know whether it’s in his nature to visit training grounds, but he is welcome here any time at all,” said O’Neill.

“In fact, it would be great boost for him to take time out and come here.

“Maybe after Christmas when the World Cup starts to build for him, whether it be the ground or a call, I’m quite sure he will be in touch.

“I’ve met him a couple of times. I met him at PFA dinner and he went out of his way to come and speak to me.

“I met him out in Spain at the Peace Cup – he lives out there. He was fine and he was very effusive about the players. I can imagine that he will want to speak to me.”

However, O’Neill accepts that Capello could disappoint some of Villa’s Three Lions hopefuls who might lose out to their club-mates.

“In the scheme of things it would be great to see three or four of the team go to the World Cup,” added O’Neill.

“In reality it won’t happen because we have players fighting over the same position.”