Super Kev The New Magic Merson?

David O'Leary is looking to develop Kevin Phillips game to emulate Teddy Sherringham making him Villa's playmaker. Makes sense, as we've not had an out and out playmaker since magic Merson left Villa.

32-year-old Phillips made an immediate impact when he came on in the 68 minute of the FA Cup clash against Port Vale at the weekend setting up two goals for Milan Baros

O'Leary told the official site: 'Originally I bought Kevin as an impact player to come off the bench in situations like these and turn the game around for us. That is exactly what he did on Saturday. In the past, he was very much an out-and-out striker and got all those goals alongside Niall Quinn for Sunderland. He fed off Niall's work and they had a great partnership. But there is no big target man here and I want to use Milan Baros's pace because that scares any defence in the Premiership. I will encourage Kevin to do the same sort of thing as Teddy Sheringham does for West Ham, which is to drop back a bit and dictate from behind the striker.'

Adding:

'He is intelligent and I think he can adapt from an out-and-out striker to being a creator while still weighing in with some goals. He can pick a pass, he has good feet and uses his brain well.'