FORMER Villa boss Ron Atkinson believes Gerard Houllier’s strugglers will comfortably avoid relegation with a flurry of late-season wins.

Villa are hovering worryingly near the drop zone, just two points above the bottom three.

But Big Ron reckons they have enough quality to climb away from trouble and banish fears about demotion to the Championship.

“I have been surprised by the anxiety in the voices of Villa fans I have been speaking to, they have been genuinely worried about suffering the drop,” said Atkinson.

“I’ve maintained all along I just cannot see it happening and getting that result at Everton on Saturday was the clearest symbol so far that it will not. I believe we will see them pick up four or five victories before the season is over to leave Villa fans wondering what all the fuss was about.”

Villa are expected to have a full compliment of players to select from for Sunday’s crunch clash against Newcastle at Villa Park.

And Atkinson believes the presence of Houllier’s senior stars will give the claret and blues sufficient experience to ease to safety.