Aston Villa FC

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• Manager:Gerard Houllier

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O'Neill: Nigel's like Lennon

12 Jul 2007 - 08:21:23

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has likened recent signing Nigel Reo-Coker to midfield hardman Neil Lennon, who worked with O'Neill at both Leicester City and Celtic.

Reo-Coker has joined Villa in an £8.5million deal from West Ham United and O'Neill is confident that the former England Under-21s skipper can be a big hit in the Midlands.

The Irishman said: "I worked with Neil Lennon for five years at Leicester and another five years at Celtic and I'm not so sure he was captain that many times under me.

"But he played like a captain every single week and he was a leader at Leicester and Celtic.

"I definitely see similarities in terms of personality when it comes to Nigel. He is exactly the same as Neil Lennon.

"Power, energy and aggression are things that Nigel will give us in abundance and that's pretty necessary.

"He's also got youth on his side and I'm trying to get a young side together that's going to try to develop.

"I think they will do in time and I think Nigel will be a driving force for us."