Aston Villa News 24/7Writer: Mike Field 
Date:Thursday January 15 2009
Time: 3:25PM
UK time is: 06:58:54
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O'Neill With Selection Headache
Martin O'Neill has spoken of the selection headache he now faces given that players are returning from injury.
Martin Laursen went straight back into the squad, despite not being at his best, at the expense of Knight who had performed admirably in his stint back in the first team.
For our trip to Sunderland O'Neill also has to decide whether to drop Reo-Coker for Cuellar again. And with talk that Carew isn't far off a return to the first team squad aswell he will shortly have to ponder whether to rejig midfield to accomodate the Hulk again.
Speaking to the Express and Star our enigmatic manager said:
"When players come back to fitness I am left with decisions to make about the side. Martin came in, he felt pretty good.
"Carlos had a hamstring problem and I thought putting them in together would have been a bit risky.
"I think Nigel has done very well and I don`t think that there was any need to be risking anything. Zat Knight did very well when he came in. He scored the goal against Arsenal and did fine against Hull.
"But Martin has done exceptionally well and is the captain of the side. He wanted to get back as quickly as possible."
Hopefully as additions are made this month selection headaches will become a normal thing for our manager. Being able to have players on the bench that can both easily slot into the first team and provide competition will only be a good thing for the club as everyone agrees.
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Your Comments
Headache? MON is a creature of habit and will undoubtedly start cuallar,laurson,davis and young back 4 if all fit. NRC is a decent squad player but nothing more. I think we need much bigger headaches after the transfer window if we want to hold on to 4th place! UTV
pjvilla
I didnt think we had the squad for MON to have a selection headache! I can pick his team if he wants.
leelindsay
It's more than a good thing, it's an absolutely necessary thing
Mancuni-villa
cant wait for freddy and carew to return!
ric112
Hear bloody hear ric112. We need as many bodies in the mix as is possible. Hopefully an addition or two before the transfer window closes, and we'll be reasonably well equipped to face the trials and tribulations that lay in wait for us between now and May.
glensider
I think that NRC has really rises to the challenge of late pjvilla, and has looked one of our more accomplished performers. O.K., he has his failings and limitations at times, but overall I think he's performed admirably, particularly considering that he's often asked to play out of position. We shouldn't underestimate his importance to the team.
glensider
might be a few more headaches for the opposite reason soon, we have a few players on 4 yellow cards, 1 more and they serve a match ban.
The Fear
Am I just being negative thinking Selection headaches with the current squad might mean he would rather have less headaches, than a possible increase that extra bodies might induce after January
fatloser
I think you are right fatloser , MON seems to like the challenge of a small squad . It gives him an excuse not to change things .
Villan57
i think reo coker has found his position, his abilities are completely suited to right back and given a bit more experiance i think he could become quite accomplished. he has the pace, acceleration, strength and is great in a tackle. His touch and awareness are not suited to the middle and he is given more time out on the right, i'd prefer him over Cuellar anyday in right back who has struggled to adapt as quick as Reo Coker
liamo1981
Reo coker has sucked at right back in my opinion?
industrial_musical
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