Aston Villa: Dunne, Warnock, Young and Downing left out of squad for Rapid Vienna tie

Aug 26 2010 By Mat Kendrick

KEVIN MacDonald is making no apologies for excusing four influential first-teamers from crucial Europa League duty against Rapid Vienna at Villa Park tonight.

Richard Dunne, Stephen Warnock, Luke Young and Stewart Downing have had extra time off this week to prepare for Everton in the Premier League on Sunday.

Dunne has a slight back problem and is also coming to terms with a break-in at his family home on Sunday when Villa were being thrashed 6-0 at Newcastle.

With James Collins (calf) and Carlos Cuellar (hamstring), MacDonald believes there is now enough cover at centre-back to avoid risking the Irish international defefender.

Warnock and Downing have been given a breather after three games in quick succession, while Young has also benefited from extra recovery time.

"Two or three have been given more time off," said MacDonald.

"Richard is not playing. He has got this ongoing thing with his back and I think we’ve got to manage him because he is a big player for us.

"But we’ve obviously got James Collins and Carlos Cuellar coming back.

"There are one or two others who have had time off as well.

"Not just Richard. Richard also had his house broken into the same day as the Newcastle game so it has been a bit traumatic. He had quite a bit of stuff taken I think.

"It was a bad day. It was a bad day for all of us. But I don’t have a problem with Richard having time off.

"Richard wasn’t the only one that was disappointed – all 17 or 18 plus myself. I should be more disappointed because I selected the team so I am the one that looks the worst.

"I’ve given Stewart Downing and Stephen Warnock a bit more time off because they played three games in seven days last week.

"I am quite happy to make big decisions. I knew straight away last weekend I wasn’t going to have them to play."