O'Leary: Best will come from Djemba-Djemba

David O’Leary believes Aston Villa will not see the best of midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba until next season.

Djemba-Djemba has struggled to make an impact since his £1.3m (€1.86m) January move from Manchester United and was dropped to the bench for Villa’s game against Middlesbrough nine days ago.

O’Leary has admitted he wanted to ease Djemba-Djemba slowly into his plans but injuries have forced the 23-year-old to play a greater part.

The Villa boss believes the player needs a full pre-season under his belt to come to terms with the high tempo game he likes his teams to play.

O’Leary said: “I bought Eric more with a view to next season. I felt we had to get a few bodies in and there was a player available at Manchester United for £1.3m (€1.86m) with the wages being very reasonable as well.

“But I have really got him for next season. I really feel he will need a good pre-season under his belt with the way that we play.

“He hasn’t played much and when that is the case you need to get up to speed. He has come into Villa and I’d have liked to have played him in there with someone like Gavin McCann.

“He came in against Arsenal which wasn’t the best of games to come in when he hasn’t played much. He did quite well at Portsmouth and I think he did alright against Everton but what he has needed is to come into a team that is playing really well.”

O’Leary added: “I think we bought a decent lad in January, a decent level of player who Manchester United had watched for many years and thought would replace Roy Keane.

“He hasn’t, and I know it might not have worked at United for Eric but we have bought a certain player for the level our club is at whom hopefully I can help develop into a better player.

“We need to let him settle in until the end of the season and we will develop him and get him up to speed more pre-season.

“I was hoping we would not have to use him as much, bring him into the club and let him know the way we want to play, but because of the lack of bodies I’ve had to use him.”