Source: Team_Talk
O'Neill: Heskey key to Villa plans
Heskey was reported to be considering his future after England's World Cup qualifier in Ukraine because he feared for his place in Fabio Capello's plans if not playing regular club football.[LNB]But the former Liverpool player has since claimed he has no intention of quitting Villa.[LNB]O'Neill said: "Emile Heskey is a key part of our squad. I accept he hasn't started games but we have Gabby Agbonlahor who has been on fire and done brilliantly recently.[LNB]"I have a little sympathy for Emile actually. We spoke and I understand how these things come out. I have been in this business for a long, long time.[LNB]"Emile is not the one to be starting ructions around this football club - certainly not public ructions.[LNB]"I have known him a long, long time and he is very quiet. If he has anything to say to me he knows he can knock on my door.[LNB]"But I can understand people asking these questions with the World Cup looming and him not playing regularly."[LNB]O'Neill admitted he used to speak to the legendary Brian Clough when himself out of the starting line-up at Nottingham Forest.[LNB]He said: "I used to knock on the door of Mr Clough's office when I was a player and he would say to me 'it is a long, long season son and you will get your chance.'[LNB]"It is a long, long season before Christmas, Easter and a long, long time before the World Cup. Players here will get their chances."[LNB]Heskey has established himself as a first-choice player with England under Fabio Capello and appears a certainty for next summer's World Cup finals.[LNB]But it is a different scenario at club level where he is having to play second fiddle to Gabriel Agbonlahor who has been in outstanding form this season.[LNB]O'Neill admits he has sympathy for Heskey but cannot make any promises in terms of his role with Villa.[LNB]O'Neill, speaking ahead of tomorrow's home lunchtime clash with Chelsea, said: "There is a frustration factor with players when they are not playing.[LNB]"It is ironic that Emile is playing regularly for England at the moment and not playing regularly for us.[LNB]"The England manager, for the most part, wants his players to be playing regularly for their club sides.[LNB]"That is the situation for England to decide upon.[LNB]"I'm not here to guarantee people places in the team and I think Emile accepts that viewpoint.[LNB]"I do have some empathy with him because he has done exceptionally well for England and guided them to the World Cup in relatively quick time.[LNB]"He has made a very good impression with Fabio Capello and would want to be in the starting line-up more often here."[LNB]However, O'Neill, who has adopted a 4-5-1 formation in most matches this season, knows it would be unfair to drop Agbonlahor, who has scored five goals in 10 games during the current campaign.[LNB]He said: "In terms of centre-forwards, Gabi has been fantastic for us. His recent form has been superb so it would be hard to shift him out of the team at the moment.[LNB]"John Carew has also been great for us and also having to battle to get into the team.[LNB]"That competition can only be good for me as a manager but I can't guarantee people playing every single week."[LNB]O'Neill feels Villa will go into Saturday's game with the Blues full of confidence after their win at Liverpool and home draw with Manchester City.[LNB]He said: "While it is important psychologically to do well against the top sides, I'm not so sure it is a pointer to the whole season.[LNB]"Having said that, we have played two games against teams with genuine aspirations at the top end of the league in Liverpool and Manchester City and those games will give us confidence when we face Chelsea.[LNB]"I thought our performance against City was brilliant, especially in the first half, and will be a boost when we come up against a team which will find whoever finishes in front of them will probably win the Premier League.[LNB]"They have been a terrific side for several years, have enjoyed a golden period in their history, and possessed some of the best players in world football."[LNB][LNB] Aston Villa v Chelsea. Click here to bet.
