Source: Team_Talk
Delfouneso gets his chance
Gerard Houllier has urged Nathan Delfouneso to make his mark and help Aston Villa overcome a striker crisis at Fulham.[LNB] England Under-21 player Delfouneso will make his first league start in the absence of the injured John Carew, Emile Heskey and Gabriel Agbonlahor.[LNB]Carew is the latest casualty with a torn calf injury suffered in training yesterday and he will be out of action for three to four weeks.[LNB]Heskey underwent surgery on Thursday on his lateral knee ligament injury and will also be out for a month.[LNB]Agbonlahor is back in training after a groin operation three weeks ago but it is too early for him to be considered at Craven Cottage.[LNB]Houllier said: "It is an ideal opportunity for young Nathan to step up. He will definitely be the main striker.[LNB]"Young players don't stay young all their lives. At some stage they will grow and get mature. But their career usually starts when there is an opportunity.[LNB]"I know Nathan is not a newcomer because he has already played under Martin (O'Neill) so he knows the Premier League.[LNB]"But to him maybe it is an ideal opportunity to put his footprint on things."[LNB]Houllier is refusing to be downcast by the growing list of injuries which also includes skipper Stiliyan Petrov.[LNB]He added: "Injuries are part and parcel of the football club and that is why we need the squad. I am confident. I think we've got a good squad, a good team.[LNB]"We have to deal with things on a daily basis. I am not down. It happens. I am not devastated. In fact, I am confident."[LNB]Houllier was critical of the work rate of midfielder Stephen Ireland in midweek but has seen signs of improvement.[LNB]He said: "He (Ireland) was better I would say this week. He showed a better commitment.[LNB]"Top level requires quality, which he has, but it also requires work rate and attitude and that probably has not been his game before.[LNB]"I will give him the time. I am patient."[LNB]Houllier is also a big admirer of Fulham skipper Danny Murphy, who played under him at Liverpool.[LNB]He said: "I like Fulham's midfield. It's a midfield of footballers in (Zoltan) Gera, (Danny) Murphy, (Jonathan) Greening and (Simon) Davies. They all play football.[LNB]"Danny is a player who was in every important game that we played, the finals.[LNB]"You can say he has no pace, maybe that he doesn't defend but, at the end of the day, he is there so he must have some quality.[LNB]"He's a great passer of the ball. He can see before the others. He has an eye for the pass and can see the picture.[LNB]"He is very clever in his movement. He is a supporting player. He knows himself he is not going to run everywhere but he has skill."[LNB]
