O'Leary lays down challenge to Berson

David O’Leary has challenged Mathieu Berson to prove he can cope with the demands of the Barclays Premiership when he finally makes his full Aston Villa debut at Chelsea on Boxing Day.

The French midfielder has taken time to adjust to life in England after making a £1.5m switch from Nantes last summer.

But injuries to fellow midfielders Gavin McCann and Thomas Hitzlsperger mean he will be handed his chance on the most demanding of stages against the league leaders at Stamford Bridge.

Berson impressed when he came on as a second-half substitute in last Saturday’s 3-0 reversal by Middlesbrough at The Riverside Stadium.

O’Leary said: “He came on against Middlesbrough and did very well. He’s a lad who is a good player. Definitely. The test will be ‘can he cope with the demands and the pace of the English game?’.

“A lot of people were impressed with him last week but players can take time to adapt the demands of the Premiership.

“You have heard the Arsene Wengers, Jean Tiganas and Gerard Houlliers saying players they bring over for many millions of pounds can take a year to settle in.

“I wanted to bring him in for the start of pre-season training but we were unable to do that which was not ideal.

“But I think he has really got better during the past six months and is starting to understand the players and the language, and been able to get fitter and has picked up the tempo.

“It is a big test. Ideally I’d like to be introducing him when we had all our players available to help him more but we’ve haven’t so we’ve got to get on with it.

“He’s got to get in there now and show what he can do and they don’t come much bigger than this game on Sunday.”

O’Leary has nothing but praise for the way Jose Mourinho has spent wisely and welded together a Chelsea side well on course to win their first league title since 1955.

He said: “I’m a fan of Mourinho. He has done a fantastic job. We can all inherit and spend money but lots of people waste it.

“But he has come in and bought some exceptional players and he also inherited some exceptional players as well.

“He has put a pattern of play down there. They know what they are all doing. They know what their jobs are.

“I honestly believe if you want to be successful you have to have a top ’keeper and a solid defence – and he’s got that.

“His record speaks for itself and he is doing a fantastic job with quality players and he has created a really good spirit.

“Winning helps create that spirit as well but they are well organised and I think they’ve got a real solid basis and in general he doesn’t tinker around too much with the team.”

Midfielder Lee Hendrie will return after completing a three-match suspension for his red card at Manchester City with O’Leary hoping he has learnt his lesson in terms of the need to stay disciplined.

He said: “Does he need more words? I’ll be very surprised if he needs more words from me. Enough has been said and quite rightly.

“Lee is at an age now where’s got to start learning and growing up and getting better and being able to walk away from things.”

With Carlton Cole unable to play as part of the loan deal with Chelsea, Juan Pablo Angel will operate as the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation.