Aston Villa Football Club News

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Alex McLeish

• Ground:Villa Park
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O'Neill hails Carew hat-trick

10 Feb 2008 - 12:36:43

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Aston Villa striker John Carew earned high praise from manager Martin O'Neill after his treble in the 4-1 thrashing of Newcastle United at Villa Park.

The 28-year-old Norway international helped Villa fashion a superb second-half fightback, taking his tally this season to nine in the Premier League.

Afterwards, O'Neill said: "John showed in the second half the kind of form he is capable of. He was unplayable during that time.

"He has fitted in really well here, been excellent in the dressing room and I have been pleased with him, but he can do even better.

"What I would look for from John is to get more a consistency from him.

"John was absolutely fantastic today. He knows he can do it and the next step for him is to produce that sort of form on a more regular basis.

"When he's on that sort of form, he's absolutely immense."

Of the overall display against the Magpies, O'Neill added: "In the first half Newcastle played some pretty football, deserved to be in the lead and we were second best.

"But we got the goal just after half-time and it reignited the crowd, put us back in business and we were excellent after that."