Source: Team_Talk
Cup win could tempt stars - Dunne
Villa are favourites to overcome Blackburn in the two-legged semi-final, with the first leg re-arranged for Ewood Park on Thursday evening.[LNB]And Dunne, who could face his former club Manchester City in the final if they defeat Manchester United, feels that will encourage top-name performers to move to Villa Park.[LNB]Dunne, who will be competing in the first semi-final of his 14-year career, said: "The ambition of every footballer throughout their career is to win something.[LNB]"For the young lads here, the more they can win at a younger age, the more experience and the more hunger it will give them to win more.[LNB]"If you get your first trophy, it will hopefully lead to more and breed confidence around the side and hopefully clubs will fear us a little bit more.[LNB]"But, if we achieve that, players who probably wouldn't want to come to Aston Villa previously will start looking at us as a successful side where the top players can come and win stuff."[LNB]The postponement of the first leg last Tuesday and Saturday's Premier League game at Wigan has allowed midfielder James Milner and full-back Luke Young to recover from foot and ankle injuries respectively.[LNB]The clash with Rovers will represent the first action for more than a fortnight for the likes of skipper Stiliyan Petrov, Brad Friedel, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Dunne, who were rested for the FA Cup tie between the clubs on January 2.[LNB]Dunne admitted: "Everyone wants to play every game but sometimes you just have to listen and the manager always knows best.[LNB]"To be honest, I am feeling the benefit of it (a break). You don't feel tired at the time but, having previously had so many games in a short period does take its toll."[LNB]Meanwhile, O'Neill is not looking to offload left-back Nicky Shorey, who is currently on loan at Nottingham Forest.[LNB]Shorey started the first five games of the campaign but lost his place after the arrival of Stephen Warnock from Blackburn.[LNB]But O'Neill feels the former England player has a role to play at Villa Park, especially if he improves the defensive side of his game.[LNB]O'Neill said: "If there was an offer, I would sit down with Nicky and his agent to discuss it but I am not actively seeking (to sell him).[LNB]"Nicky thought when Stephen Warnock arrived that his chances would be limited at the time. But he is capable of fighting back.[LNB]"I think going forward he has done very well at Forest and, if he tightens up his game defensively, he has loads to offer - and I think he has tried to do that."[LNB]Villa full-back Luke Young was an unused substitute for Tottenham when they overcame Leicester - then managed by O'Neill - in the 1999 final.[LNB]But he is not getting carried away with the prospect of playing at Wembley against either Manchester United or Manchester City on February 28.[LNB]Young said: "We're making good progress as a club. We're heading in the right direction and this would be another step on the ladder.[LNB]"To get to a final would be tremendous but we're certainly not looking too far forward. We've got a big job to do - starting with the first leg away at Ewood Park.[LNB]"The first leg dominates our thoughts at the moment. In that first leg, we've got to go out there and start well.[LNB]"We can't concede early. If we could go there and pick up a draw, with a goal too, that would be nice.[LNB]"It's always important to score a goal and then bring them back to Villa Park and finish the job. But it's going to be very hard."[LNB][LNB]
