Carlos Cuellar says Aston Villa can turn top four dream into a reality

Nov 11 2009 by Mathew Kendrick, Birmingham Mail

Carew scored one and was involved in three others as Villa’s attack clicked into life to produce the club’s most resounding scoreline since their 5-1 victory over Blues more than 18 months ago.

“I am happy John plays for Aston Villa,” said Cuellar. “I would rather play with him than against him.

“Of course as you can imagine he is hard defend against.

“In training I sometimes have to play against him and he is really hard to mark.

“John is big and he is strong and clever, he’s probably the best player in the air in the Premier League.”

Cuellar showed his own aerial prowess when he scored his first Villa goal with a glancing header which Carew would have been proud of to complete the rout against Gary Megson’s Trotters.

“We learn all the time between us and it was great to score for Villa,” he said.

“I am very pleased to score especially at home – I am happy with that.”

Cuellar’s dual ambition is to help Villa qualify for the Champions League and force his way into the Spain national team ahead of next summer’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

“Getting in the World Cup squad is really hard because the Spain squad is a tough one but I am working hard.

“It will be difficult but I will try. I just hope to keep playing well and then we will see what happens.”

■ Villa’s Premier League home match against West Ham has been put back a day to Sunday, January 17, at 1.30pm for live television coverage on Sky.