High hopes for Angel

ASTON VILLA skipper Gareth Barry is backing Juan Pablo Angel to become the 20-goals-a-season player who can bring the glory days back to the midlands club.

Villa have been lacking a regular goalscorer for many seasons and have gradually declined as a Premiership force.

The last player to score 20 goals in a campaign was Dwight Yorke during 1996-97 after netting 25 in the previous campaign.

But club record signing Angel is starting to show the kind of deadly finishing that can make the difference between mediocrity and success.

His hat-trick in the 5-0 demolition of Wycombe in the Carling Cup last night took his tally to six goals in the last four games.

The Colombian international scored 16 goals two years ago but found his opportunities limited during Graham Taylor's reign and he would have quit the club in the summer had there not been a change of management.

But the arrival of David Oary has been like a breath of fresh air for the former River Plate player who looks like he is enjoying his football again and it is being reflected in his performances.

Barry said: "Juan has worked so hard over the summer to get himself right and he deserved his hat-trick the other night to go with the three goals he had already scored.

"Hopefully he can keep that going and become the 20 goals a season man which Villa have been missing for a while.

"If you can get someone who can score regularly, it makes a hell of a difference. That's what has been affecting us over the last few seasons.

"It looks like Juan could be the player to do that for us. He's been given his chance this season. That's what a quality player needs and he has been sticking his chances away.

"A lot of money was spent on him and he took time to settle. There were a lot of reasons but he has been here a while now and is starting to be really part of things now.

"Players go through different phases with different managers. They have different ideas. It happened with me and then Graham Taylor came in and gave me my chance again," he said.

"Now the same has happened with Juan and David O'Leary. The new manager has given him the opportunity he wanted and he has grabbed it with both hands.

"Even if you are behind in a game, you know with someone like Juan in the side that given half a chance he will take it," he added.

Barry has stressed the importance of the Carling Cup to Villa who are unlikely to be figuring in the push for a European place via the Premiership this season.

He said: "It's a route into Europe and a route to a trophy which is something Villa haven't won for a while. We are taking this competition very seriously.

"We have always done so in the past and the approach of the new manager is no different. With a couple of decent draws and a bit of luck then hopefully we can go all the way."