Villa boss O'Neill exasperated at injured Heskey's inclusion against Spain

13 February 2009 17:18
Fighting fit? Heskey (right) tussles with Spain's Xabi Alonso[LNB] Aston Villa[LNB]manager Martin O'Neill has expressed his surprise and disappointment that Emile Heskey started England's midweek friendly defeat in Spain.[LNB]Heskey suffered an Achilles injury during Villa's win at Blackburn[LNB]last weekend but was declared fit to play by England's medical staff after reporting for Wednesday's game in Seville.[LNB]The striker has been unable to train since returning to Villa and is as a major doubt for Sunday's FA Cup clash with Everton[LNB]at Goodison Park.[LNB]O'Neill cannot understand why the 31-year-old was risked in a non-competitive game and will speak to England coach Fabio Capello to express his displeasure.[LNB]'Emile has aggravated his Achilles. I was surprised he started the England game. He had come off against Blackburn last weekend.[LNB]'The ruling now is that you go down and be assessed at international level by the international medical team.[LNB] 'Knowing Emile, he would have wanted to have gone down there and played in a bit of discomfort but I was surprised he played considering he wouldn't have been fully fit.[LNB]'I didn't speak to Fabio Capello beforehand. I would have thought those things would have been pretty straightforward.[LNB]'Emile has come back, he didn't train today, the Achilles is particularly sore at this minute. If the game was this minute, he couldn't play.[LNB] Calm: Capello[LNB] Ire: O'Neill[LNB] 'It was a friendly international at the end of it all. I can understand it if it was a qualifying game because they are very important to the well-being of the country.[LNB]'But you would have thought rest this particular week would have been the order of the day.'[LNB]O'Neill added: "If you are fully fit to play, I don't have a problem and you take your chance. If you have been suffering from something a couple of days before, then I think a bit of care should be taken.[LNB]'I have spoken to the England doctor and voiced some concerns and I will speak to the manager.[LNB]'My take on it is, if someone is not fully fit to play in a game, you are not going to get the best out of them.' Barry hails O'Neill as Aston Villa push towards Champions League[LNB]Everton v ASTON VILLA: Barry out of Toffees cup clash[LNB]ASTON VILLA FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB] [LNB]  

Source: Daily_Mail