Downing has O’Neill looking up at last

AMID the small flurry of new signings that descended on Aston Villa in the summer, the costliest of all has gone almost unnoticed this season.

Stewart Downing’s career at his new club has spluttered thanks to a broken bone he sustained while playing for Middlesbrough in May.

That injury meant that Downing has been unable to begin repaying his £12 million (€13.1m) transfer fee, until last weekend, that is. After introducing him as a 70th- minute substitute at Turf Moor, manager Martin O’Neill is now relishing the prospect of seeing his high-profile new man in action.