O'Neill reluctance over U21s
Martin O’Neill would prefer his crop of young Aston Villa players to recharge their batteries this summer rather than feature in the European Under-21 Championships for England.
However, the Irishman will not attempt to stand in the way of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, Gary Cahill and Liam Ridgewell if they are called up for the June tournament in Holland by under-21 coach Stuart Pearce.
Agbonlahor, in particular, has featured in virtually every game for Villa in his first full campaign of senior football while Young – a January capture from Watford – and Cahill have also figured prominently.
O’Neill knows there may be after effects next season of what effectively will be an 11-month campaign but he knows his players will be keen to represent their country.
He told PA Sport: “It would be difficult to stop them from going. I’m sure they would all want to go and represent their country in the finals.
“Ideally it would be great if players could get a proper rest in the summer time. I’m not just talking about the younger players but the mature players as well.
“It’s interesting to hear Steven Gerrard saying that after the World Cup finals, and then having to go into the Champions League qualifying games with Liverpool, he felt lifeless in September and October.
“That’s a mature player who has a lot of games of under his belt. I find that very interesting because how our boys may feel, but I cannot stop them from playing.”
