O'Leary predicts golden future for Whittingham

Aston Villa manager David O’Leary believes that rookie midfielder Peter Whittingham can have the same kind of impact as achieved by Harry Kewell and Alan Smith at Leeds.

O’Leary was quick to recognise the potential at Elland Road of Kewell and Smith during his spell as George Graham’s number two and when in the managerial hot seat.

Now the Irishman is feeling the same sort of vibes about England Under-19 international Whittingham, who scored his first senior goal for the club in Tuesday’s 5-0 win at Wycombe in the Carling Cup.

Whittingham was rejected as a 16-year-old by Coventry City but he is the youngster that has caught O’Leary’s eye the most since replacing Graham Taylor as manager and has started every game this season.

O’Leary said: “I am a great lover of bringing young players into a team – if they are good enough to go into the team.

“I am a big believer in putting them in. They won’t find me being the kind of manager blocking their path if they are good enough.

“Peter has done very well and I thought he was excellent again at Wycombe. Of course, he will have his dips in form as young players do. He is bound to.

“I’d love to have the luxury of leaving him out and giving him a break. I’ve not got that at the moment with our resources being stretched. It is important to look after him.

“But I’ve had a good feeling about Peter, along with (assistant manager) Roy Aitken, from the first moment we saw Peter. We liked him from the off.

“We had a good feeling at Leeds about Harry Kewell and Alan Smith, a good feeling that they could do it, and I’ve also got the same feeling about Peter, that he is good enough.”