Downing debut delights ONeill
22 Nov 2009 - 13:11:53
The former Middlesbrough player came on in the 70th minute of the 1-1 draw at Burnley, his first match since breaking a bone in his foot last May.
O'Neill accepts there is a long way to go until the 25-year-old rediscovers the form which made him a regular in the England squad, but he is just delighted to see the player back on the pitch.
"Just to get on the field of play is a very positive sign for him," said the Villa manager.
"It might still be a bit too early as, in terms of proper fitness, it will be hard for him at the moment because of the amount of football he has not played.
"I'll be the first to tell you he is not entirely fit but he has been desperate to be involved with us.
"He will benefit from that [run out] and he can only improve from there.
"He's a very decent player, he's played a number of times for England and he can play.
"But I think if he stays clear of injury we'll see the best of him from Christmas onwards."
James Milner, ironically one of the players who is now ahead of Downing in the England squad for a wide role, set up Villa's equaliser with four minutes remaining.
Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen's weak punch from a corner went only as far as the 23-year-old - playing as a stand-in right-back for the last 10 minutes - and he crossed to the far post where Emile Heskey stooped to nod home from close range.
That goal cancelled out Steven Caldwell's ninth-minute header from Robbie Blake's inswinging free-kick.
Both sides had other chances to score, with an Andre Bikey volley going close for the Clarets in the first half and Gabriel Agbonlahor being denied only by Jensen's fingertips when clean through after the interval.
Heskey's goal was his first in the Premier League since April 18 and O'Neill said he expected more from the England forward.
"He needs to keep the fire burning and score a few goals," O'Neill said. "That will be a huge boost to him."
