Euro exit would ‘devastate’ O’Neill

MARTIN O’NEILL has admitted he will be “devastated” if Aston Villa fail to make the group stages of the UEFA Cup tonight (kick-off 8pm) as he prepares to ring the changes for the second-leg clash with Litex Lovech at Villa Park.

Villa hold a 3-1 lead from the first leg but O’Neill knows his side were flattered by the scoreline against their Bulgarian opponents, who opened the scoring and were then handicapped by having two players red-carded.

O’Neill is likely to make several alterations from the side that overcame Sunderland 2-1 at the weekend to climb into third spot in the Barclays Premier League.

The former Celtic boss is aware of keeping players fresh for Sunday’s match at Chelsea, which will be Villa’s seventh in only 21 days.

But O’Neill still believes the players being drafted into the side — with James Milner, Carlos Cuellar and Moustapha Salifou looking certain to play — are good enough to ensure Villa suffer no hiccups in front of their own fans.

O’Neill said: “I will make some changes in the side but we need to get through. The group stages is something we want to be involved in.

“It gives us a chance to play European football up until Christmas and I just think it would be great if we could achieve that.”

Milner, Villa’s record signing at £12 million (€15 million) from Newcastle last month, impressed as a substitute against the Black Cats.

O’Neill said: “James Milner will start. Definitely. I thought when he came on the other day against Sunderland, he was brilliant — and he will be brilliant for us down the coming years. The Chelsea game will have some bearing on the side I select. I hate to try and look forward but the side will have some bearing only because of the glut of games we have played.

“Some players, like Gareth Barry, have played a host of games, including the recent England games, without respite. Stiliyan Petrov has had a similar schedule so, as much as Thursday is important, I have to keep an eye on Sunday at the same time.”

O’Neill has fielded the same XI for all six Barclays Premier League games but insisted that situation will change, as he challenged players to break into his line-up.

He said: “I don’t think there is any point in them playing if they don’t feel they’ve got a chance of breaking in.

“James Milner, Carlos Cuellar, whoever, if they play well could put themselves in the frame for Chelsea.”