O'Leary challenges Villa youngsters
Aston Villa manager David O’Leary has challenged the young players in his squad to prove they can perform in the Premiership on a regular basis.
The likes of midfielders Steven Davis and Peter Whittingham plus central defender Liam Ridgewell have shown promise when pushed into the first team because of injuries.
Davis produced a man of the match display on his full debut against Tottenham at Villa Park nine days ago.
But O’Leary knows that sustaining such levels of performance week in and week out is the big challenge to overcome for young players.
The Villa chief said: “What we’ve got to find out is how good they are. They are getting in because of lack of numbers, not because of brilliance.
“I am not afraid of giving kids a chance as I’ve shown in my career. When I came here I could see that Steven Davis and Peter Whittingham were good footballers – but don’t judge people on the odd game or the occasional 20 minutes.
“It is all about whether they have got the quality to sustain things and stay in the team and push the club ahead.
“There are no diamonds there yet. We have got to see if these players will come through and hold down a regular place and go onto be top players. Only time will tell.
“There are exceptions like the Harry Kewells, Alan Smiths, Jonathan Woodgates at Leeds. You look at the Frank Lampards and Rio Ferdinands at West Ham.
“Then there was a batch at Liverpool like Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Steve McManaman and Steven Gerrard.
“They were real top stuff. We’ve got to wait and see where these players here are. They’ve come in and done all right without much opposition here.”
