Source: Daily_Mail
Villa boss O'Neill insists: Dynamite Delph can fill Barry's big boots
Martin O'Neill is rarely lost for words but he was struggling for superlatives yesterdayafter watching Fabian Delph's first training sessions with Aston Villa.
But O'Neill not only predicted a glittering future for the teenager but also tipped him to step into the void left by Gareth Barry's defection to Manchester City. Villa fans have been growing increasingly uneasy at a summer of inactivity.
With Stewart Downing sidelined until December with a foot injury, doubts remained whether O'Neill was planning to find a suitable replacement for Barry, who departed for £12million.
But 19-year-old Delph found himself showered with praise by his newboss just 72 hours after his arrival from Leeds United in an £8m deal.
The midfielder tried to distance himself from the hype, playing down the significance of his leap from League One into the big time.
But, buoyed by what he had seen, O'Neill was in no such mood to playsafe. 'This is no gamble,' said the Villa manager. 'I'm excited abouthim, genuinely excited. There is no question he is a Premier Leagueplayer. He has Premier League ability and an edge to his game.
'He will progress. He has done exceptionally well at Leeds. He hasbuilt a good foundation there. And I think he's ready to go. Actually,I think he's ready to go now.
'It would be great if we could have got him in pre-season and he would have played with us. It's just the timing of it that has been slightly frustrating.
'But he can make an impact. He has that level of ability. It might not work out for him immediately, but I want him to get in there. More importantly, he wants to get in there.
'We do have holes to fill. Big holes. We have lost Gareth and Martin Laursen. But I have the utmost confidence in Fabian. He will play on Saturday against Fiorentina. I don't know whether he will start but he will play.'
Delph cuts a slight figure, not dissimilar in stature to Ashley Young, but after spending his first full season amid the rough andtumble of League One, has learned how to look after himself, accordingto O'Neill.
Certainly, Delph did not put a foot wrong in his press conference,although nowhere near as bullish as his manager. 'I'm trying as best asI can to get used to the step up,' he said.
'Obviously, it's quickerand people are physically stronger. I'll need time to adjust to that,but I'm sure I'll be fine.
'I realise I'm a League One player trying to establish myself. I'm going to come here, give it my all and work hard at it.
'I've had no pressure put on me. The manager has told me I've got tosettle into the environment and get to know the players. I don't feelany pressure. Hopefully, I canpush myself and nick a position in the team.'
Despite his obvious pleasure at landing Delph, O'Neill's mood wasnot lightened by the prospect of his preparations for the openingleague game against Wigan beingdisrupted by the absence next week of several players on international duty.
The Villa boss has been without James Milner, Craig Gardner andGabriel Agbonlahor for most of his pre-season programme after theirinvolvement with England in theEuropean Under 21 Championship.
O'Neill said: 'It is not just the England international. You've alsogot World Cup games being played three days before the season starts.It seems really strange and pointless to be playing those sort ofmatches so near the start of a season. It doesn't make a great deal of sense.'
