O'Neill doubts Liam loan
03 Feb 2007 - 09:05:46
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- O'Neill doubts Liam loan
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill says he is very unlikely to allow centre-half Liam Ridgewell to leave the club on loan, despite an approach from neighbours Birmingham City.
Blues manager Steve Bruce had hoped to land Ridgewell as a replacement for Matthew Upson, but O'Neill says his squad is not big enough to allow players to move out.
He commented: "I spoke to Steve Bruce, who didn't want to lose his own centre-half, he inquired about Liam.
"Liam was aware of that, but I've heard nothing since and I would be reluctant to be letting people go now.
"We've got some big games coming up ourselves. Liam has very seldom been out of the picture.
"He wasn't in the 16 at Newcastle, but we have played 30-odd games and he has been involved in 90 per cent of them.
"He has only missed a couple of matches and even then he was on the bench. I think Liam has done pretty well for us this season."