Source: Daily_Mail
Villa boss O'Neill 'forgives' Reo-Coker by starting him against West Ham
Nigel Reo-Coker's feud with Martin O'Neill could end tonight - but the midfielder will be stepping into another tricky battle as the Aston Villa star is in line for a start against former club West Ham United.[LNB]Reo-Coker has not started a Premier League match since a training ground bust-up with Villa manager O'Neill in September but is poised to replace James Milner or Stilyan Petrov who are suffering with calf and shin injuries respectively.[LNB]Ex-England Under-21 skipper Reo-Coker had a torrid time at Upton Park, singled out by the fans for the team's poor results then requesting a move when the board failed to reassure him about his future at the club and leaving acrimoniously in 2007.[LNB] Back in the fold: Nigel Reo-Coker (left) gets stuck into Sunderland's Kieran Richardson in last week's Carling Cup match[LNB]The 25-year-old is therefore guaranteed a hostile reception in East London but that will not deter O'Neill.[LNB]Reo-Coker has edged closer to a start in recent times, going on as a substitute recently and starting last week's Carling Cup match against Sunderland. [LNB]His return to the side for a league game would banish any doubts over whether or not he has repaired his relationship with his manager. If he plays from the start then it will be clear that O'Neill has forgiven him.[LNB]Victory would fire Villa in the top four but O'Neill is staying calm. From fourth-placed Manchester City down, six teams are separated by just three points and O'Neill said:'I am not surprised how tight it is and it will be good for the league if it remains tight.[LNB]'I have always felt this season that Manchester City would be strong challengers for the top four and so that has proven to be the case.[LNB]'Tottenham Hotspur have started very strongly but have had a bit of a hiccup just recently and you would always expect Everton, who have had a number of problems injury wise, to be coming back into it again.[LNB] I forgive you, but do the West Ham fans? Martin O'Neill (left) will have no problems pitching Nigel Reo-Coker into battle against his old club tonight[LNB]'So I am not surprised but there are only 10 games gone and the top sides usually find themselves at the top.[LNB]'There is a chance to go fourth in the league and the consequence of it is that is fine.I don't adhere to this thought that we might falter in any aspect.'[LNB]The trip to the Hammers will be a fourth away game in 12 days, having already drawn at Everton and Wolves and beaten Sunderland.[LNB]O'Neill added: '! will be glad to see this run end. By the time we set foot in Villa Park again at the weekend to play against Bolton, it will be three weeks since we have played a home game.[LNB] 'It has been particularly tough for us and our supporters. Plus the fact that you add in the cup game against Sunderland. [LNB]'Can you imagine if we had started off this run by being beaten at Wolves? It would have been a long next three games. As it turns out we are still going in with plenty of confidence to West Ham.'[LNB] Charles Sale: Poppies growing on Premier League clubsJames Collins can be one of the best, says Aston Villa manager Martin O'NeillHammers boss Zola boosted by Parker return for crunch Villa gamePetrov and Milner causing concern as Aston Villa head for West HamASTON VILLA FC
