O'Neill warning for Moore
13 Dec 2007 - 14:52:34
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has confirmed that the club took up a 12-month option on striker Luke Moore's contract after talks over a long-term deal collapsed.
The 21-year-old is now under contract until the end of next season, with O'Neill issuing a veiled threat that Moore needs to buck his ideas up to secure a more regular first-team spot.
He told the Birmingham Mail: The decision to extend Luke's contract was our decision. There was talk about a new contract and negotiations went to and fro, but Luke has decided not to take the offer on board.
"People here get opportunities to get into the side and they have to take them, I can only pick 16 players. There's a fight on for positions and I'd want that throughout the team.
"As a general message to everyone in the squad, people have got to fight to get into the side and, if they get into the team, then they have to do well.
"Luke's played a number of games. But this is what happens - someone comes into the side, does okay, then does not so badly, then maybe doesn't do so cleverly, then doesn't play for a couple of weeks and then questions are asked."
Moore has scored 15 times in 94 appearances for Villa, although 54 of those outings have been from the substitute's bench.
