Barry earned his City break, declares O’Neill

ASTON VILLA manager Martin O’Neill admits former skipper Gareth Barry “earned the right to decide his future” ahead of today’s vital Barclays Premier League clash with Manchester City at Eastlands.

Barry clocked up more than 400 games in 12 years at Villa before deciding to move to Eastlands last summer after his dreams of joining Liverpool were shattered a year earlier.

Now the England midfielder, providing he recovers from a hamstring injury, will do battle with his former colleagues as the race for a Champions League spot gathers momentum.