Aston Villa FC

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Milner earns O'Neill praise

16 Dec 2009 - 08:32:52

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Martin O'Neill claims James Milner is playing the best football of his career after he helped fire Aston Villa up to third place in the Premier League table.

O'Neill described Milner as "colossal" after he set up Emile Heskey for the first goal and then scored with a thunderous 25-yard strike in Tuesday's 2-0 victory over Sunderland.

"Milner has just been fantastic since he arrived at the football club. Last season, he interchanged with Ashley (Young) left and right," explained O'Neill.

"He has come into the middle now and he has just been colossal for us, colossal.

"From midfield, it is his third goal in five games.

"He is certainly enjoying it. It doesn't mean that he hasn't put in a lot of hard work - he covered an awful lot of ground at Old Trafford (on Saturday) and he has done so tonight.

"He was obviously feeling the effects in the last 20 minutes of the game but he has just been wonderful.

"He deserves it as well because he is an exceptional fella."