Clean sheets for vexed Villa trio

NEW manager David O’Leary has offered an olive branch to Aston Villa’s trio of unsettled players, telling them he is prepared to wipe the slate clean.

Club-record signing Juan Pablo Angel and Turkish international Ozalan Alpay constantly made it clear that they were unhappy with life at Villa Park during the past season.

And Bosko Balaban, who was loaned back to Dinamo Zagreb for the whole of 2002/2003 despite costing Villa £6 million, has now returned to pre-season training.

But O’Leary is prepared to welcome all of them into his plans for the new season if they show a willingness and commitment to Villa and his way of thinking.

“Everyone will start with a clean sheet,” stressed O’Leary.

“You’ve got to say that. This is not my team that is in place. I’ve taken it over. Will Alpay, Balaban and Angel be involved? If they fit in, then yes.

“We all have our own opinions on players, on what you want them to do and the way you want them to play, and only time will tell if they can fit into that.”

It will be a another week though before O’Leary has the opportunity to meet the likes of Darius Vassell, Gareth Barry, Olof Mellberg, Marcus Allback, Peter Enckelman, Angel and Alpay. They have been given an extended break after summer international commitments.