Aston Villa Football Club News

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

• Ground:Villa Park
• Capacity:42,584

O'Neill praises in-form Carew

05 May 2009 - 07:55:28

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Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill praised John Carew after the striker's goal secured a narrow 1-0 home win over relegation-threatened Hull City.

The Norway international has scored six times in his last 11 games, having previously seen his season disrupted a back injury.

O'Neill said: "John's goal tally is very impressive. I think he has accepted the challenge to deliver the goods more regularly. I think that is absolutely right.

"The great, great players in this game are very consistent. The demands are great, but he is doing great, really well indeed.

"I am delighted for John. He seems to have had no recurrence of the back problem and this is as fit as he has been for the season.

"He is very popular. He is thriving on the confidence and his popularity with the crowd and the team and occasionally with me as well."

Of his side's hopes of gaining a Europa League spot next season, O'Neill added: "The club some years ago used to feast on European football.

"There has been a bit of a famine recently and it is great to have it for two successive years.

"I know we are still battling and we can't finish any worse than sixth - which is the same as last year - and we can possibly finish fifth.

"That said, there is a tinge of disappointment that we couldn't keep the battle going (for fourth spot), but those four teams are very strong."