Source: Team_Talk
Villa send shadow squad to Russia
Stand-in skipper Gareth Barry, Brad Friedel, Emile Heskey, James Milner, Ashley Young, Gabriel Agbonlahor, Carlos Cuellar and Stiliyan Petrov are all excluded from the 19-strong party announced on Tuesday by the former Celtic boss.[LNB]Luke Young, Curtis Davies, Zat Knight and John Carew are among the few experienced players in the squad.[LNB]Youngsters such as Elliott Parish, Eric Lichaj, Ciaran Clark, Shane Lowry, Barry Bannan and Mark Albrighton are included.[LNB]O'Neill has made it clear that securing a Champions League spot via a top four finish in the Premier League is his priority.[LNB]He said: "We have a couple of players carrying injuries and a couple of others who I believe need resting for the important final third of the season."[LNB]Cuellar has been troubled by a hamstring injury and O'Neill indicated at the weekend he would not travel for fear of aggravating the problem on a plastic pitch.[LNB]Heskey only returned to action against Chelsea at the weekend after picking up an Achilles injury while on England duty in Spain.[LNB]Villa squad: Guzan, Taylor, Parish, Luke Young, Davies, Knight, Shorey, Lichaj, Clark, Lowry, Sidwell, Salifou, Gardner, Osbourne, Bannan, Albrighton, Harewood, Carew, Delfouneso.[LNB][LNB]
