Gruelling schedule may force O’Neill to reshuffle

MARTIN O’NEILL intends to make full use of his squad to help Aston Villa through their demanding schedule of five games in 15 days.

Villa are pushing for a Champions League spot and, having been beaten in the Carling Cup final, are now through to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and a meeting with Chelsea.

O’Neill has tended to rely mainly on the same core group of players as Villa look to stay in contention with Tottenham, Manchester City and Liverpool for a top-four spot.

But he concedes he will have to make changes for the battles ahead as Villa prepare for this evening’s clash away to unpredictable Wigan.

O’Neill said: “We’ve had a hectic schedule. We’ve been going non-stop since January and by next weekend will have played 16 games in 66 days: a match every four days.

“We got through to the Carling Cup final, we are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and, when you’re having a decent stab at the FA Cup, you are going to have postponements and we’re fitting games in at the moment.

“I would prefer that to not being involved at all. Having said that, it is the utilisation of the squad now from here on in that I’m hoping will sort things out.

“It will be a busy spell for us. I know that and we have to be up for the task. It’s all about recovery in between games and that is the most important element of it all.

“But the main point over the next few weeks, with games coming thick and fast, and a semi-final to prepare for, is I will be very surprised indeed if we don’t have to make a number of changes in the team.”

O’Neill believes the race for the top-four – and indeed the league title – is wide open this season.

He said: “You look at this season and the number of games the top sides have lost this year – they would all have been surprised at that.

“I think it has made for a more exciting race, not just for the championship itself but also the race for fourth place.

“There will be points dropped when teams play each other but also other points will be dropped because it is the nature of this season.

“In terms of fourth place, Tottenham have got points on the board and at this stage of the season that is important.

“Manchester City are still very strong and very much in contention and, despite the fact Liverpool got beaten by Wigan last week, they can not be written off. They are also capable of winning six on the trot.”

Villa’s leading scorer Gabriel Agbonlahor could return to the starting line-up at Wigan and may dislodge either John Carew or former Wigan striker Emile Heskey as Villa look to maintain their 2010 unbeaten league record.

Wigan are only four points clear of the drop with 10 games left. Captain Mario Melchiot is out tonight with a thigh injury.