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McLeish has "great respect" for O'Neill Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish admits following on from the Martin O'Neill era has "been a big act to follow" ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland. O'Neill will return to Villa Park with the Black Cats for the first time since quitting as Villa boss five days before the start of the 2010-11 campaign. The Irishman led Villa to three successive top-six finishes in the Premier League, a Carling Cup final and FA Cup semi-final in his four years at the helm. When asked what reception O'Neill can expect from the Villa fans, McLeish said: "We want the crowd reception to be 100 per cent behind Aston Villa and to give players the shot of adrenalin that can help them. "That was the case in recent games against Chelsea and Stoke. We need them again in these games coming up. "I'm sure the fans respect what Martin did, sixth position, a cup final, a European excursion. "That is why it is difficult for them just now and the last couple of seasons, because we have got a big act to follow." McLeish, who managed Rangers when O'Neill was in charge of Celtic, added: "I'm not saying Martin and I are bosom buddies from years gone by but I've got great respect for him. "He has had a fantastic career as a manager and I'm still looking to get that kind of status he has got." McLeish preferred not to become involved in why O'Neill opted to leave Villa so close to the start of a campaign. He said: "In terms of Martin leaving Villa, nothing surprises me in football. I guess that's what keeps you guys (the media) going every week, when there is a wee bit of controversy. "Martin left, it wasn't any of my business, it was between him and Villa, and he chose to do that. That is his prerogative." O'Neill himself is confident he can achieve with Sunderland what he did at Aston Villa and establish them as a top-six club. The Ulsterman has all but mathematically confirmed a sixth successive top-flight campaign for the Black Cats since arriving in December, and he is now setting his sights higher. Asked if what he achieved at Villa can be replicated on Wearside, he said: "For Sunderland Football Club? Of course it's achievable, absolutely. "It's achievable, the club is big enough to be able to have those sort of demands put on it, I am hoping. "Whether we are able to do it or not is another thing, but that should be the ambition at the football club." O'Neill will send his ninth-placed team out looking to close the gap on Merseyside duo Liverpool and Everton immediately above them, having seen them fail to score in each of their last three outings. However, McLeish's problems are significantly more pressing with Villa sitting in 15th, just six points clear of the bottom three. The Scot, of course, was not universally welcomed to the club after being handed the job despite presiding over city rivals Birmingham's relegation last season. But O'Neill believes that whatever problems they are currently experiencing, there will be better days ahead. He said: "I think Aston Villa will rise again to be a great club. It might not happen overnight, but it will happen." Sunderland will have central defender John O'Shea back after a calf injury, but skipper Lee Cattermole, full-back Kieran Richardson and striker Connor Wickham will all be missing.